India, March 13 -- The US will launch a trade investigation into alleged unfair manufacturing practices by India and 15 other major economies, the office of the US Trade Representative announced on Wednesday - the latest move by the Trump administration to rebuild tariff pressure after the Supreme Court struck down the centrepiece of its global trade agenda last month.

The action, formally known as a Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act of 1974, can give the US government the power to impose new tariffs, restrict imports and suspend trade agreement concessions against economies found to engage in unfair trade practices. The probe will focus on structural excess industrial capacity - where state-supported manufacturing output exc...