Brown Passes Amendment to Trade Bill to Prevent Imports Produced with Forced or Child Labor

Statement

During a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, the Committee voted to include an amendment filed by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and offered by Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR). The amendment would eliminate an exemption in current law that allows the U.S. to import products produced with forced or child labor if there is not sufficient supply to meet domestic demand to the trade package. The amendment closing the loophole was passed as part of the reauthorization of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), included in today's trade package.

"At a time when Congress is taking steps to combat human trafficking, this Committee has an opportunity to close a loophole in U.S. law that allows imports of certain products made through forced and child labor," said Brown. "This loophole is outdated. It is immoral. And it must be closed."

For nearly a century, U.S. law has permitted the import of certain products made by forced or child labor if the United States does not produce a sufficient amount of that good necessary to meet domestic consumption levels. Brown's amendment would permanently close this loophole.

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