A lawyer for Shein submitted a letter to the U.K. Parliament denying its U.S.-bound products contain any Chinese cotton. The letter, sent Jan. 20 after several British lawmakers in a hearing earlier this month expressed concern about forced labor in the company's supply chains, said that the company complies with the laws and regulations of the countries in which it sells.

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala asked members of the international trade community at the World Economic Forum to stop "hyperventilating" about proposed tariffs from the Trump administration while warning that tariffs won't bring about the desired effects.

Foreign workers from Bangladesh are preparing to sue Sony and Panasonic in U.S. court over forced labor conditions at their former employer in Malaysia, Kawaguchi Manufacturing, a plastics supplier for the two companies.

U.K. lawmakers at a hearing held Jan. 7 described a Shein lawyer's immediate refusal to answer questions about cotton sourcing in the company's supply chains as "bordering on contempt."

China’s Foreign Ministry objected to a recent Bureau of Industry and Security rule that requested public comments on possible import restrictions for Chinese-made drones (see 2501020037), saying any new measures could further disrupt the two countries’ trade relations.

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.