In a significant policy shift, India has banned the import of goods manufactured using forced labour, even as the United States is still finalizing its own decision on tariffs against countries that fail to curb such imports. The move positions India ahead of potential U.S. penalties and aligns it with growing global momentum against supply chains tainted by coerced work.
The timing is strategic. Washington is in the process of determining which countries will face punitive tariffs for insufficient action on forced-labour goods. By acting first, New Delhi may be attempting to shield its exporters from American trade consequences while burnishing its credentials on the global stage.
