WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai released the following statement after Mexico published a resolution aimed at prohibiting the importation of merchandise produced with forced labor:
“With this resolution, Mexico has taken an important step toward joining the United States and Canada in prohibiting the importation of goods produced with forced labor. In light of this progress, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will work more closely together to eliminate forced labor from global supply chains and tackle transshipment, leveling the playing field for North American workers while protecting the most vulnerable workers around the world.”
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement requires each Party to prohibit the importation of goods into its territory from other sources produced in whole or in part by forced or compulsory labor, including forced or compulsory child labor. This resolution follows numerous discussions between the United States and Mexico, including on U.S. enforcement of Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the legislation prohibiting importation of goods produced with forced labor into the United States.
The United States continues to use trade policy to address forced labor worldwide, including in global supply chains. These efforts include implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, supported through the work of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force and tripartite collaboration on combatting forced labor in supply chains through the U.S.-EU Trade and Labor Dialogue. They also include the establishment of the U.S. – Japan Task Force to Promote Human Rights and International Labor Standards in Supply Chains under the U.S. – Japan Trade Partnership. USTR helps coordinate these and other tools to combat forced labor as it develops the first-ever Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor.
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