Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act
Sponsored By: Representative Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
In Committee
Summary
Stop DRC cobalt mined with forced labor from entering U.S. markets. This bill would require the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to complete a 180-day investigation and deliver a strategy to trace cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, list entities that may use forced labor, and direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enforce the Tariff Act ban on goods made with forced labor.
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- Importers and U.S. companies would face stricter screening and a higher risk that products containing DRC cobalt could be denied entry if the cobalt is linked to forced labor.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force would get required tools, tracing recommendations, and must give semiannual briefings to the appropriate congressional committees on enforcement actions and updates.
- The bill would create and regularly update a list of DRC mining and processing entities suspected of using forced labor and identify priority downstream product sectors for enforcement.
- Nongovernmental organizations and private sector partners must be included in coordination to implement tracing, update the entity list, and support enforcement efforts.
- The reporting and enforcement framework would end after 8 years or earlier if the President certifies that forced labor in the DRC mining industry has ended.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Block cobalt mined with forced labor
This bill would require the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to finish an investigation within 180 days of enactment. The report would list DRC companies that may mine or process cobalt with forced labor and name priority downstream products. It would include strategies to enforce the Tariff Act, trace cobalt sources, stop cobalt from entering via third countries, and stop denied shipments from later entering the U.S. The Task Force would give Congress semiannual briefings after the report. The public report would be unclassified but could include a classified annex. The requirement would end after 8 years or if the President certifies forced labor in DRC mining has ended.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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