A US federal court heard arguments on September 30 in a challenge to President Donald Trump's forced-labour tariffs. Here is what we know.

**What is being challenged?** The Liberty Justice Center is contesting 10 to 12.5 percent tariffs imposed since late July on goods from 80 countries, levied under Section 301 of US trade law over forced-labour concerns.

**What is Section 301?** A Cold War-era statute letting the US Trade Representative punish 'unfair' foreign trade practices after an investigation. Critics — including former officials Alan Wolff, Carla Hills and Warren Maruyama — say it was meant for targeted findings, not sweeping duties.

**Why does this case matter?** In February, the Supreme Court struck down the earlier IEEPA-based tariffs, triggering an estimated 168 billion dollars in refunds. The White House rebuilt its tariff wall on Sections 122 and 301. If Section 301 falls too, the programme loses its main pillar.

**What is the timeline?** The court will rule in due course; either side can appeal. Meanwhile the USTR is pressing ahead with separate probes into China and Brazil.

**The bottom line:** Billions in duties — and Trump's trade strategy — hang on how the court reads a 1970s trade law.