An International Blueprint for Forced Labor Import Bans

This policy brief outlines a global framework for forced labor import bans (FLIBs) as a key tool to address forced labor in international supply chains. Despite legal prohibitions, forced labor persists, distorting markets and harming workers. The brief highlights core elements of effective bans—including strong enforcement, clear standards, and worker-centered remediation—while emphasizing the need for international coordination and complementary policies.

Published by the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School

Read the report.

In June 2026, the US Trade Representatives Office adopted the eight essential elements of an effective import ban from this report and set those elements as the recommended standard for forced labor import bans globally.

Read the USTR’s report on forced labor import bans.

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Submission to the US Trade Representative’s Office on Section 301 Investigation of Unfair Trade Practices/Forced Labor Import Bans