India, March 13 -- The United States has initiated an investigation into 60 economies to assess what actions they took in imposing a ban on importing goods produced with forced labour. India is among the trading partners the US listed in its new directive.

"Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

The development comes a day after Greer announced the Trump administration's plans to launch a probe into 16 economies over their trade practices, to determine whether they "burden or restrict" US commerce. India was also part of that list.

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