US industries split over Trump's tariff probe on excess factory capacity

Domestic U.S. industries are urging the Trump administration this week to impose higher tariffs to curb the rising tide of exports from China and other countries with excess factory capacity, while import-dependent and agriculture groups want a more cautious approach to new trade curbs.



The U.S. Trade Representative's office on Tuesday launched a marathon, four-day hearing on its "Section 301" trade investigation into excess industrial capacity in 16 major trading partners, including China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Vietnam.



Trade watchers widely expect the probe to lead to new import duties as the Trump administration seeks to rebuild tariff leverage lost when the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's global tariffs invoked under a national emergencies law.