BRUSSELS – The Office of the United States Trade Representative, the United States Department of Labor, and the European Commission co-hosted a roundtable on due diligence for responsible business conduct in supply chains on March 3, 2023.
Claudia Calderón, Director for Labor Affairs, led for USTR, and Laine Romero-Alston, Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, led for the Department of Labor.
The roundtable featured representatives from various labor unions, businesses, and civil society organizations, and focused on tools and practical approaches for effective due diligence implementation, including for the eradication of forced labor from supply chains. Roundtable participants discussed legislative and non-legislative measures in the United States and the EU that address due diligence and labor rights in global supply chains, as well as the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, strengthening stakeholder capacity to conduct due diligence, and the need for visible improvements in respect for labor rights and in working conditions for workers. Participants presented case studies on due diligence practices, including in the critical minerals, textiles and cocoa industries. More than 400 people participated in or observed the roundtable, in person and virtually, from throughout the United States and Europe.
This roundtable is an initiative of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Working Group on Global Trade Challenges. The conclusions from the roundtable will feed into the next ministerial meeting of the TTC, which will take place later this year.
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