A research paper says that prison camps for Uyghurs were phased out in 2019, and now, labor transfers have become the main mechanism of forced labor, usually for rural people who were never imprisoned. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act tries to address labor transfers outside of Xinjiang by noting that they, too, are presumed to be forced labor, but the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force has identified few companies or facilities in Eastern China that have employed Muslim minority workers.

Is it EU "institutional rigidity," as a former assistant U.S. trade representative for Europe, Dan Mullaney, says, or unrealistic asks from the U.S. government delaying a deal on trade in steel and aluminum that could end tariff rate quotas on European exports?

For all the talk of a climate club, where trade among countries inside the club is privileged, panelists at the Niskanen Center said the failure of the U.S. and the EU to reach an agreement on green steel in two years of talking shows how far off that possibility is.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Nelson’s checker-mallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana), a flowering plant found in the Willamette Valley and the Coast Range of Oregon and Washington, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule released Oct. 16. An FWS review indicated that “threats to Nelson’s checker-mallow have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species," the agency said. The delisting takes effect Nov. 16.

An analysis of the Rapid Response Mechanism, aimed at bolstering the rights of Mexican workers in USMCA, says it's early yet to see if it raises wages and employment in export-intensive sectors, and if the U.S. is successful in replicating the approach in other trade agreements.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing 21 species from its Endangered Species List because the species have gone extinct. A final rule released by FWS on Oct. 16 delists the little Marana fruit bat and 10 species of birds, including the Kauai akialoa; Kauai nukupuu; Kauai 'o'o (honeyeater); Large Kauai thrush (kam'a); Maui akepa; Maui nukupuu; Molokai creeper (kakawahie); po'ouli (honeycreeper); bridled white-eye and Bachman's warbler. It also removes two fish species, the San Marcos Gambusia and the Scioto madtom. Eight species of clams are also being removed, including the flat pigtoe; southern acornshell; stirrupshell; upland combshell; green blossom (pearly mussel); tubercled blossom (pearly mussel); turgid blossom (pearly mussel) and the yellow blossom (pearly mussel). The final rule takes effect Nov. 16.

The Department of Labor is asking for public comments on labor capacity building efforts in Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) countries, and whether they meet labor obligations under the agreement. The comments, due by 5 p.m. EST on Nov. 16, will be considered as DOL drafts a report required by Congress on labor capacity-building efforts in CAFTA-DR, agency said. "As this is the final iteration of this report, DOL is also accepting comments on the implementation of labor obligations in all six countries under the Labor Chapter of CAFTA-DR," DOL said.

Panelists and a senior administrative official acknowledged that the Inflation Reduction Act agitated Japanese, South Korean and European allies who saw its tax provisions as protectionist, but the politics made it the only way to ramp up U.S. climate ambition, several said.

The Federal Maritime Commission last week dismissed a charge complaint against Mediterranean Shipping Company lodged by SOFi Paper Products after MSC refunded SOFi for a congestion surcharge that allegedly violated U.S. shipping regulations. The FMC also determined no violations "of the Shipping Act were proven in this proceeding."

The Energy Department is amending its energy efficiency standards for commercial water heating equipment, it said in a final rule released Oct. 5 and effective Dec. 5. The compliance date for the updated standards is Oct. 6, 2026.