EU Reaches Deal on Forced Labour Ban Eying China’s Xinjiang

European Union on Tuesday reached a provisional agreement to vance a legislation to ban forced labour eyeing Xinjiang province of China. measure would need to be approved by European Parliament and Council. EU member states are expected to target specific economic sectors based on database extracted by European Commission. It will be imposed in places where forced labour exists. 

China has not been explicitly named by EU in document, as it needs to comply with World Tre Organization (WTO) rules. European measure is unlike US ban which specifically targets goods me in Xinjiang.

“It is appalling that in 21st-century slavery and forced labour still exist in world,” Pierre-Yves Dermagne, deputy prime minister of Belgium, which holds rotating EU presidency, said, according to South China Morning Post newspaper. “This hideous crime must be ericated and first step to achieve this consists in breaking business model of companies that exploit workers,” he ded.

EU provision to apply to products worldwide

EU provision will apply to products from all over world. In parliament, parties clashed over who would minister measure on ban that y argue will drain state resources. Eventually, EU parliament and council diplomats reached an agreement to investigate companies’ supply chains outside bloc.

As per probe, authorities will have liberty to pull off goods from market for sale and subsequently confiscate m at border. In accordance with measure, EU will identify higher risk-prone regions where y suspect forced labour. EU customs will demand more information about importers and exporters, manufacturers as well as suppliers.

Samira Rafaela, a lawmaker who led negotiations on deal was was quoted saying by South China Morning Post that measure is “groundbreaking in field of human rights”. “It will prevent forced labour products from entering our market. And it has several references to remediation. It is a step forward in achieving fair tre and cleaning up supply chains, while prioritising human rights.”