Walmart and Centric Brands are investigating labor practices in their supply chains in Cambodia over allegations that inmates at the largest women's prison in Cambodia were illegally employed to make garments, Reuters reported Aug. 21.
The Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act in Canada does not require large Canadian companies to take action or reduce the risk of forced labor in their supply chains, a new analysis from McMaster University said. The study, released Aug. 2, said the act does not hold companies accountable when forced labor is found. The report, conducted with the Governing Forced Labour in Supply Chains Project, focused on the Canadian company Lululemon Athletica.
The Internet Technology and Innovation Foundation's Center for Data Innovation says The COOL Online Act, which exited the Senate Commerce Committee in late July (see 2307280069) "presents a significant risk for online retailers," and would result in uneven enforcement of country of origin labeling in stores and at retailers online.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America's Sheep Committee petitioned U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to begin a safeguard investigation, and they say they want Congress to create a tariff rate quota for lamb and mutton, with the goal of domestic producers achieving a 50% market share by the 10th year of the TRQ.
The National Foreign Trade Council said Canada's proposed digital services tax "is clearly discriminatory towards U.S. companies," and the bill's introduction is shortsighted.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association, which is lobbying for passage of Shop Safe (Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-commerce), thanked the bill's sponsor, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., for bringing forward a resolution on anti-counterfeiting and consumer education and awareness.
UPS and the Teamsters union, which represents UPS employees, reached a tentative five-year collective bargaining agreement, the two sides announced July 25, ending the possibility of a strike at the beginning of next month. The agreement covers union employees in "small-package roles," UPS said, and will need to be approved and rarified by union members. The Teamsters said voting will take place from Aug. 3 to Aug. 22.
CBP awarded Altana a “multi-year contract” to map supply chains for the agency for CBP’s use in addressing forced labor, the company said in a news release July 20. “This new award expands Altana’s relationship with CBP to help enable CBP officers and analysts to quickly understand the complexities of rapidly-shifting global supply chains, all using Altana’s Atlas,” Altana said. “The Atlas will assist CBP officers and analysts to analyze highly messy data at scale, harness artificial intelligence to triage and prioritize actions, and collaborate across borders to stop the flow of goods created by forced labor,” it said. CBP did not immediately comment.
Alba Wheels Up is acquiring customs brokerage VT Mancusi, it announced in a news release July 19. The partnership aims to "bolster" Alba's capabilities in customs brokerage and trade compliance, the release said. "The VT Mancusi team will be joining the Alba Wheels Up team at Alba's headquarters in Valley Stream, NY," Alba said.
There is a "real opportunity" to update the Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes so that "potential tariff benefits" go toward products that are trying to reduce environmental impacts, Recreational Equipment, Inc. Vice President of Sustainability Matthew Thurston said during a panel discussion June 11.