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US, European Commission issue updated Xinjiang supply chain advisory
15 Jul '21
2 min read
Pic: Azamat Imanaliev / Shutterstock.com
Several US government departments have issued an updated advisory for US businesses whose supply chains run through Xinjiang, where the Chinese government and associated enterprises allegedly continue to subject Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities to forced labour.
The European Commission and the European External Action Service also published a guidance on due diligence to help EU companies address the risk of forced labour.
The US departments include the State Department, office of the US trade representative (USTR) and the departments of treasury, commerce, homeland security and labour.
The US advisory calls urgent attention to US businesses’ supply chain risks and identifies serious investing and sourcing considerations for businesses and individuals with exposure to entities engaged in forced labour and other human rights abuses allegedly linked to Xinjiang.
“Today’s action demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ending forced labour around the world, especially in global supply chains,” said USTR Katherine Tai in an official statement.
“Whether through the World Trade Organisation negotiations on fishing subsidies and the use of forced labor on fishing vessels, or calling out state-sponsored forced labour, our worker-centered trade policy will champion workers’ rights and address unfair competition, especially when it is based on human exploitation,” she added.
The European Union (EU) guidance will enhance companies' capacity to eradicate forced labour from their value chains by providing concrete, practical advice on how to identify, prevent, mitigate and address its risk.
The guidance explains the practical aspects of due diligence and provides an overview of EU and international instruments on responsible business conduct that are relevant for combatting forced labour.
The EU has already put in place mandatory standards in some sectors and actively promotes the effective implementation of international standards on responsible business conduct.
The European Commission and the European External Action Service also published a guidance on due diligence to help EU companies address the risk of forced labour.
The US departments include the State Department, office of the US trade representative (USTR) and the departments of treasury, commerce, homeland security and labour.
The US advisory calls urgent attention to US businesses’ supply chain risks and identifies serious investing and sourcing considerations for businesses and individuals with exposure to entities engaged in forced labour and other human rights abuses allegedly linked to Xinjiang.
“Today’s action demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ending forced labour around the world, especially in global supply chains,” said USTR Katherine Tai in an official statement.
“Whether through the World Trade Organisation negotiations on fishing subsidies and the use of forced labor on fishing vessels, or calling out state-sponsored forced labour, our worker-centered trade policy will champion workers’ rights and address unfair competition, especially when it is based on human exploitation,” she added.
The European Union (EU) guidance will enhance companies' capacity to eradicate forced labour from their value chains by providing concrete, practical advice on how to identify, prevent, mitigate and address its risk.
The guidance explains the practical aspects of due diligence and provides an overview of EU and international instruments on responsible business conduct that are relevant for combatting forced labour.
The EU has already put in place mandatory standards in some sectors and actively promotes the effective implementation of international standards on responsible business conduct.
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