Obama signs trade bill banning slave-produced imports

[Recursion]

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/02/25/Obama-signs-trade-bill-banning-slave-produced-imports/2591456405120/

(Emphasis mine)

President Barack Obama signed a bipartisan trade bill that includes a measure banning the United States from importing products procured or produced by slaves.

The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 removes the "consumptive demand" exception that allowed the United States to import goods if there was not sufficient domestic supply to meet U.S. demand, regardless of how the items were produced abroad.

The Obama administration is also bringing the first labor case under a free-trade agreement against Guatemala. The findings in the case are expected to be issued by a panel later this year.

"The Obama administration is the first to make use of the dispute settlement mechanism to stand up for workers' rights," a Wednesday White House statement reads. "This case, filed against Guatemala challenging its enforcement of its labor laws relating to the right of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, and acceptable work conditions ... sends the strong signal that the United States will use the full range of tools at our disposal, including formal dispute settlement, to ensure that workers' rights are protected."

Previously AFL-CIO or SEIU (generally AFL) have had to be the plaintiff in labor dispute resolution cases under FTAs; the Obama administration is changing that.

[Separation]

1. Pretty damned sad

That we needed this law in the first damned place.

[Recursion]

2. I think the original exception was because of rubber

We needed it, British-controlled Burma had it, and used slave labor, so we were SOL otherwise. But, yeah: appalling it lasted this long past that excuse.

[pampango]

4. Permitting 'slave-labor' imports was part of the good ol' republican 1930 Smoot-Hawley tariff bill

I believe. Count on republicans to raise tariffs on everything - EXCEPT stuff made with slave labor. I am surprised that his congress voted for this. (I know it was one provision in a large bill.)

[Recursion]

5. Ah yes, the act we all know from Ferris Bueller

Did it work? Anyone? Anyone?

It did not work.



For some reason it was stuck in my head that it was part of the Reciprocal Tariff Act, but you're right: it's from Smoot-Hawley.

[nationalize the fed]

3. We'll know it's serious

when the iPhone is banned

Why is Apple allowed to stash billions and billions offshore to avoid taxes?

Apple 'failing to protect Chinese factory workers'
By Richard Bilton
BBC Panorama
18 December 2014

Poor treatment of workers in Chinese factories which make Apple products has been discovered by an undercover BBC Panorama investigation.

Filming on an iPhone 6 production line showed Apple's promises to protect workers were routinely broken.

It found standards on workers' hours, ID cards, dormitories, work meetings and juvenile workers were being breached at the Pegatron factories.

Apple said it strongly disagreed with the programme's conclusions.

Exhausted workers were filmed falling asleep on their 12-hour shifts at the Pegatron factories on the outskirts of Shanghai...
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30532463

iPhone buyers don't care that their phones are made with slave labor

[Albertoo]

6. Pakistan and India are worse

There are literally millions of slave laborers in the Indian subcontinent.