Longshoremen and shipping interests on the East and Gulf coasts are returning to last-minute talks, as longshoremen at a half-dozen Pacific Northwest ports vote overwhelmingly to reject what was called a "last, best and final" contract offer by the Pacific Northwest Grainhandlers Association.
Forced Labor
CBP is the primary U.S. agency tasked with combating forced labor in international trade. It is the only agency with legal authority to take enforcement action and prevent entry into domestic commerce of goods produced with forced labor. CBP combats forced labor by issuing Withhold Release Orders (WROs) and Findings, and enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), and Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Goods subject to WROs and Findings, UFLPA, and CAATSA status cannot be entered at any ports of the U.S.
The Labor Department updated its list of goods it believes to have been produced by child labor or forced labor to add four goods (baked goods, beef, fish and thread/yarn), from 3 countries (South Sudan, Suriname and Vietnam). The full report, including the updated list and a discussion of the list’s context, scope, methodology, and limitations, as well as frequently asked questions and a bibliography of sources, will be available on the DOL website here.
The Labor Department’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) is requesting comments and information related to an allegation that the Dominican Republic failed to fulfill its obligations under the labor chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) (here). Specifically, the submission alleges that the Government of the Dominican Republic failed to fulfill its obligations under the labor chapter through actions or lack thereof that denied workers in the sugar sector their rights under the laws of the Dominican Republic relating to freedom of association, the right to organize, child labor, forced labor, the right to bargain collectively, and acceptable conditions of work. Comments are due by July 2.
"We cannot ignore that China is our second largest trading partner overall and our third largest export market," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., in a speech April 26 to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. But he said China "purposefully impedes market access for U.S. goods and services and blatantly steals the intellectual property of American businesses."
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs added three items to the List of Products Requiring Federal Contractor Certification as to Forced or Indentured Child Labor Under 48 CFR Subpart 22.15 and E.O. 13126,in a Federal Register notice. The additions are bricks from Afghanistan, and Cassiterite and Coltan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Departments of Labor, State and Homeland Security believe they might have been mined, produced, or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor, the notice said.
Officials at the U.S.-Panama Business Council state that the Panamanian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Ricardo Quijano, has set a goal of October 1, 2012 for the implementation of the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement. Quijano attended the recent “Panama Week” conference held March 15-16 in Washington, DC.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk met with Panamanian Commerce and Industry Minister Ricardo Quijano on March 14, 2012 to discuss progress on the implementation of the pending U.S.-Panama free trade agreement. Both Ambassador Kirk and Minister Quijano agreed to continue working intensively to bring the Panama FTA into force as quickly as possible, while ensuring that all obligations are fully met.
The Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is seeking public comments and relevant information to assist it in updating three reports on child and forced labor in foreign countries: (i) one on the worst forms of child labor, (ii) another on goods believed to be produced by forced and/or child labor; and (iii) products needing Federal contractor certification. Comments are due by March 9, 2012.
On February 1, 2012, Secretary of Labor Solis announced the award of a $2 million grant to the International Labor Organization to develop a robust presence in Colombia. The ILO presence will support the implementation of the Colombia Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, as much work remains to achieve the full potential of the plan for Colombia's workers. The Administration has also stated that it will ensure that Colombia has successfully implemented key elements of the Labor Action Plan before bringing the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement into force.
On January 25, 2012, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued another update on implementation efforts for the free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. Among other things, the parties are consulting on outstanding issues and receiving and analyzing materials regarding the steps necessary to bring the FTAs into force.