Let us ban forced labour products now

On 15th September 2021, Ursula von der Leyen came to the European Parliament and announced a ban on products in our market that have been made by forced labour. The time has come for the European Commission to deliver on this promise. The time has come to ban the products of modern slavery from entering the European market.

Shirts, shoes or cars made by enslaved Uyghurs, Turkmen, or forced workers from anywhere should not be sold in our shops anymore. This is why we have all welcomed the pledge of the President of the European Commission. This is why we will all make sure that this crucial pledge is quickly turned into reality.

We are convinced that a trade regulation, which supplements the Commission’s legislative proposal on sustainable corporate governance, is the best and simplest way to enact this ban. This is feasible. The United States has done it and the European Union should do it. All we need is the political will of the European Commission. Any attempt to postpone or dilute it would be unacceptable. We therefore urge Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, to launch the process. Our message is clear: we want an import ban on the products of slavery and we want it now.

SIGNATORIES:
GLUCKSMANN Raphaël
CAVAZZINI Anna
BRICMONT Saskia
BÜTIKOFER Reinhard
RAFAELA Samira
VEDRENNE Marie-Pierre

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