The Mexican government's IMMEX program, which allows duty waivers for temporary importation before export, changed last week to exclude finished clothing and textiles in Harmonized Tariff Schedule chapters 61, 62 and 63; quilts and comforters in 9404.40; and pillows and other bedding under 9404.90.
The Canada Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) terminated its review of human rights complaints against Canadian Tire and Mark’s Work Wearhouse, the agency announced on Dec. 23. The agency found that determining a "right to a living wage" was beyond its jurisdictional boundary and therefore "closed the complaint without any recommendation for follow-up by the company."
The Canadian government intends to create a new framework for eradicating forced labor from supply chains, its minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, Mary Ng, said in a Dec. 18 response statement. The proposed legislation would require government entities and businesses "to scrutinize their international supply chains for risks to fundamental labour rights and take action to resolve these risks," and, "a new oversight agency will be created to ensure ongoing compliance."
EU negotiators on Dec. 3 agreed to delay the bloc’s upcoming deforestation reporting requirements by one year to help companies better prepare for the new due diligence rules (see 2410040022). The law was scheduled to take effect for most large companies Dec. 30 and for small companies June 30, but a provisional agreement struck between members of the European Parliament and Council could extend those dates to Dec. 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, respectively.
Daikin, Panasonic and Sony have confirmed forced labor allegations at their Malaysian plastics supplier Kawaguchi Manufacturing.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has invited Costa Rica to join the pact, Canada said in a statement released Nov. 30. At the eighth CPTPP Commission meeting in Vancouver, the commission agreed to begin the accession process, originally requested by Costa Rica in 2022, noting the Central American country's "history as a supporter of the rules-based trading system, its experience with high-standard trade and investment rules, and [its] affirmation of its intention to comply with the obligations of the CPTPP." The accession process begins with the formation of an Accession Working Group, which will establish a timeline for Costa Rica's membership.
One day after the U.S. published a new set of semiconductor-related export controls aimed at China (see 2412020016), Beijing announced a ban on certain key critical minerals and other dual-use items being shipped to the U.S. for military uses.
The Canada Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) terminated its review of human rights complaints against Ralph Lauren Canada, the agency announced last week. The company participated in a confidential dispute settlement process with the parties that filed the complaint against the company; in June 2024, the complainants notified CORE of their decision to withdraw the complaint given "satisfactory responses" from Ralph Lauren.
As the leaders of some Canadian provinces have said their country should cut its own deal with the incoming Trump administration because Mexico hasn't aligned with the U.S. to keep Chinese electric vehicles out of its market, the new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters that it's nothing to worry about.
Restrictive trade measures from 20 of the world's leading economies "significantly increased" over the past year, the World Trade Organization found in its 31st Trade Monitoring Report. While the Group of 20 countries also imposed 141 trade facilitating measures, the report said that from October 2023 to October 2024, G20 nations imposed 91 new trade-restrictive measures covering around $828.9 billion worth of goods, up from about $246 billion worth of goods in the last report, which covered restrictions imposed from mid-May to mid-October 2023.