• Seven African countries are part of a U.S. investigation into forced labor practices
• The probe could affect trade ties under frameworks like AGOA
• Forced labor generates an estimated $236 billion in illegal profits globally

The United States has launched a sweeping trade investigation that could reshape its economic ties with several African countries, as Washington steps up scrutiny of forced labor in global supply chains.

On March 12, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) opened a series of trade investigations covering 60 economies worldwide. Seven African countries are included, namely Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Angola, Libya, Egypt, and Nigeria. The inquiry focuses on what U.S. officials describe as gaps in how these countries enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor.

The investigations aim to determine whether national policies or enforcement failures amount to “unreasonable or discriminatory” practices that could restrict U.S. trade.

The move follows a broader shift in U.S. trade policy. In 2025, under a measure adopted during Donald Trump’s presidency, Washington raised tariffs on nearly all trading partners. That policy triggered a global tariff dispute before being struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, but it had already affected several African economies, including South Africa.

U.S. officials argue that weak oversight allows some producers to gain an unfair competitive edge. “These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts U.S. workers and businesses,” U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said.

Jamieson Greer

The review will assess, country by country, how effective national legal frameworks are in addressing forced labor within supply chains.

As part of the process, U.S. authorities have initiated consultations with the governments involved under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a legal mechanism used to respond to unfair trade practices.

The stakes go beyond labor standards.

Forced labor artificially lowers production costs, distorting competition across global markets. A 2024 report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that illegal profits tied to forced labor in the private sector have risen by 37% since 2014. The organization estimates that the practice generates nearly $236 billion in annual profits worldwide, including close to $20 billion in Africa.

For the African countries involved, the investigation highlights ongoing challenges in labor governance and supply chain oversight, particularly in extractive industries, agriculture, and manufacturing.

According to the ILO, about 28 million people were victims of forced labor globally in 2021. Sub-Saharan Africa remains exposed due to structural factors such as poverty, informality, and weak enforcement systems.

The U.S. initiative could increase pressure on African exporters, especially those integrated into global supply chains. Trade in goods between the United States and Africa reached an estimated $83.4 billion in 2025.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enacted in 2000, remains the main framework governing trade between the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. It allows eligible African countries to export goods to the U.S. market duty-free. However, trade flows are still largely dominated by hydrocarbons—particularly in Nigeria and Angola—as well as mining resources and certain industrial products in South Africa.

Carelle Yourann (Intern)