COAC Member Defends Forced Labor Recommendations
A broader governmental approach would be important and helpful in the bigger fight to stop forced labor within supply chains, said Brian White, vice president-compliance at The J.M. Smucker Co., in a March 23 email. White's email was in response to a request for comment on some criticisms of recommendations from the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee's Forced Labor Working Group (see 2103230027).
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White, a co-chair of the working group, said he could speak only for himself and not the rest of the group. “I’m fully aligned with the COAC committee’s perspective and recommendations on ensuring goods made with forced labor are prohibited from entering the U.S.,” he said. “In addition to preventing prohibited goods, there also needs to be a more coordinated effort to address forced labor practices globally, which is what many other U.S government agencies are focused on doing including” the Department of State, the Department of Labor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations.
White also was supportive of recent Senate testimony from U.S. Fashion Industry Association President Julia Hughes, who favors the recommendations. Hughes “offers another perspective that is more aligned with those involved in international trade,” he said. “Enforcement activities are just one measure of success to ensure that human rights are not violated.”