EU reaches deal on forced labour ban, with China’s Xinjiang in its sights

Provisional agreement would target sectors and regions profiting from state-imposed forced labour based on database drawn up by European Commission

Unlike American ban, which specifically targets goods made in Xinjiang, it will apply to products from all over the world, including the EU

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The EU has reached a provisional agreement to ban goods made using forced labour, advancing legislation that was broadly written with Beijing in mind, although it does not name China. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:02pm, 5 Mar 2024

The European Union reached a provisional agreement on Tuesday to ban goods made using forced labour, advancing legislation that was broadly written with China in mind.

The ban, which still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council – made up of EU member states – will target specific economic sectors in places where state-imposed forced labour exists, based on a database drawn up by the European Commission.

China is not named in the documentation, given the need to comply with World Trade Organization rules. But the initial proposal was driven by widespread allegations of state-sponsored forced labour in the Chinese region of Xinjiang, which Beijing denies.

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Nonetheless, unlike a US ban which specifically targets goods made in Xinjiang, it will apply to products from all over the world, including the EU.

EU reaches deal on forced labour ban, with China’s Xinjiang in its sights

Provisional agreement would target sectors and regions profiting from state-imposed forced labour based on database drawn up by European Commission Unlike American ban, which specifically targets goods made in Xinjiang, it will apply to products from all over the world, including the EU

Provisional agreement would target sectors and regions profiting from state-imposed forced labour based on database drawn up by European Commission

Unlike American ban, which specifically targets goods made in Xinjiang, it will apply to products from all over the world, including the EU