US starts 60 probes linked to failures to take action on forced labour

Section 301 addresses unfair foreign practices affecting US commerce.

“Despite the international consensus against forced labour, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labour from entering their markets. For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labour,” said USTR Jamison Greer in a press release.

“These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts US workers and businesses,” he added.

USTR has requested consultations with the governments of these economies in connection with these investigations, and will hold hearings on April 28 this year.

Economies subject to these investigations are Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Greer had earlier announced new trade investigations into 16 economies, including India, related to structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)