EU and US Align on Addressing Forced Labor in Supply Chains

On September 25th, as part of their discussions during Trade and Labour Dialogue (TALD), the EU and US held a technical discussion on ways to end forced labor in global supply chains. This follows the joint recommendations from the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC), wherein the governments outlined recommendations for promoting easier, more sustainable and more secure trade on the transatlantic marketplace.

As part of this recommendation, the TTC stated that “the EU and the US hold that sustainable trade is not only about cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but also about ensuring a fair transition for workers and firms up and down the supply chain. This aim is encapsulated by the work of the Trade and Labour Dialogue (TALD)” 

During the joint discussions, as part of the aforementioned recommendations, representatives from both governments shared their current policies on forced labor, collaboration with third countries, and ongoing initiatives to combat forced labor.

According to the EU Commission, these present and future initiatives include: “due diligence requirements and related support measures, as well as cooperation with third countries and the promotion of decent work.The Commission also noted that “The EU and the US reaffirmed their continued cooperation to eliminate forced labour from global supply chains and to share best practices on the implementation of forced labour policies.”

This public collaboration signals a long-term goal to standardize requirements and enforcement for goods entering both the US and EU markets. These standards would allow customs to properly verify supply chain mapping and chain of custody data for products placed on the market, establishing clear standards for importers to adhere to and facilitating identification of “bad actors” in the supply chain. 

To learn more about how Sourcemap can help companies meet global standards for supply chain due diligence and traceability, reach out to our team of experts at info@sourcemap.com, or request a demo.