Obama bans U.S. imports
of goods produced by
slavery, child labor
President Obama closed a loophole in an 85-year-old tariff law to keep products of forced and child labor out the U.S. on Wednesday.
(WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES)
President Obama signed a bill Wednesday that includes a provision banning U.S. imports of fish caught by slaves in Southeast Asia, gold mined by children in Africa and garments sewn by abused women in Bangladesh, closing a loophole in an 85-year-old tariff law that has failed to keep products of forced and child labor out of America.
An expose by The Associated Press last year found Thai companies ship seafood to the U.S. that was caught and processed by trapped and enslaved workers. As a result of the reports, more than 2,000 trapped fishermen have been rescued, more than a dozen alleged traffickers arrested and millions of dollars' worth of seafood and vessels seized.
Until now, U.S. customs law banning imports of items produced by forced or child labor had gone largely unenforced because of two words: "consumptive demand" — if there was not sufficient supply to meet domestic demand, imports were allowed regardless of how they were produced.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) says the legislation "gives the U.S. an important tool to fight global slavery."
(J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) who offered the amendment eliminating that exception, said Wednesday his office is already asking U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure they begin enforcing the new rules when the law takes effect in 15 days.
"It's embarrassing that for 85 years, the United States let products made with forced labor into this country, and closing this loophole gives the U.S. an important tool to fight global slavery," he saidWe use cookies to enhance your visit to our site and to bring you advertisements that might interest you. Read our Privacy and Cookies policies to find out more.
Human Rights Watch says some children working on tobacco farms reported symptoms consistent with acute nicotine poisoning
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Children as young as 12 will still be allowed to work on US tobaccofarms despite new regulations banning the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s, Human Rights Watch has said.
Although President Barack Obama's administration has extended the FDA's authority to include all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, 12-year-olds can still work 50 to 60 hours a week outside of school on tobacco farms.
According to HRW, some children working on farms in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia have reported vomiting, nausea, headaches and dizziness while working withtobacco leaves.
The group warned the symptoms were consistent with acute nicotine poisoning.
They also suggest some of the pesticides commonly used intobacco farming are known neurotoxins, which can destroy nerve tissue.
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