GRC’s director of forced labour programs, Samir Goswami, testified at the two-day U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) “Section 301” investigation into what it calls the failure of 60 countries to enforce bans on imports of goods produced with forced labour.
In his recent testimony, Samir highlighted a critical issue at the intersection of trade, supply chains, and human rights.
China’s long-term industrial strategy relies on maintaining dominance over global critical mineral supply chains, many of which are tied to the exploitation of Uyghur and other Turkic communities. Under its 15th Five-Year Plan, this model is set to continue, positioning Xinjiang as a key hub for supplying minerals essential to Western industries, from clean energy to advanced manufacturing.
Samir underscored that the UK currently lacks a forced labour import ban, relying instead on corporate self-reporting under the Modern Slavery Act. While the EU has taken a step forward with the Forced Labour Regulation, its real impact will depend on how effectively it is implemented.
By contrast, the United States has established the strongest framework to date, particularly using a rebuttable presumption, which places the responsibility on companies to demonstrate that their supply chains are free from forced labour.
Adopting similar approaches in the UK and EU, alongside stronger coordination across jurisdictions, will be critical to closing enforcement gaps.
Ultimately, aligning these systems will promote fair competition and ensure that global supply chains are no longer built on exploitation, and that Uyghur communities have a meaningful path toward protection and accountability.
Samir’s testimony was also sighted by Reuters. Read the full article here.
You can read GRC’s full submission to the USTR at the link.