US steps up forced-labor import enforcement across trade deals
Ambassador Greer announced that the Trump administration is making forced-labor import bans a core provision in bilateral trade agreements, with 9 countries already committed. The US is leveraging trade enforcement to ensure countries adopt and enforce laws prohibiting goods made with forced labor—a practice US law has forbidden for nearly a century. Greer emphasized that American companies already bear significant compliance costs, and the administration will continue expanding forced-labor enforcement in global supply chains.
Photo: Mike Norris / PexelsOn June 10, 2026, USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer responded to a Washington Post editorial critical of forced-labor trade enforcement, reaffirming the Trump administration's commitment to using tariff and trade tools to combat forced labor in global supply chains.
Background and scope
U.S. law has prohibited the import of goods made in whole or in part with forced labor for nearly a century. Under President Trump's first term, the administration secured forced-labor import bans from Mexico and Canada. In his second term, Trump made such bans a core provision in each Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, and Greer reported that 9 countries have already committed to adopt and implement forced labor import bans.
"He started his second term by asking countries to adopt the same forced labor import bans as a core provision in each Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. To date, 9 countries have committed to adopt and implement a forced labor import ban." — Ambassador Jamieson Greer, USTR
Who is affected
The enforcement action affects exporters and freight forwarders shipping goods into the US from countries that have not effectively prohibited imports of forced-labor products. Greer specifically highlighted gaps in enforcement among major trading partners:
- European Union: Greer noted that the EU finally passed a forced-labor law, but it does not take effect until the end of 2027.
- Canada: Despite having a law on the books, Greer stated the country has not stopped many shipments of forced-labor goods.
American companies and supply-chain participants currently bear significant compliance costs to eradicate forced labor from US supply chains, according to Greer. The administration intends to ensure commitments are effectively enforced and to continue expanding leverage to enforce forced-labor bans.
What this means for shippers
Shippers must verify that goods entering the US are not produced with forced labor—the administration will actively enforce this prohibition across all trading partners, regardless of existing relationships. Review your supply-chain documentation and supplier certifications now: forced-labor shipments face seizure and potential tariff penalties. Non-compliance is not negotiable and will be enforced through tariff and trade tools. Confirm that your suppliers and sourcing countries are either already implementing forced-labor import bans or have committed to do so. /sanctions-screen
