New Delhi, July 14 (PTI) The government has amended the foreign trade policy to prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour, amid a US investigation into forced labour practices in 60 countries, including India.

Amending the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has inserted a paragraph that reads: "The import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, through the use of forced labour is prohibited", according to a gazette notification dated July 13.

The provisions of the notification shall come into effect after the expiry of 30 days from the date of its publication in the official gazette, it stated.

The development has come amid the US Trade Representative (USTR) undertaking Section 301 investigations against 60 economies, including India, over concerns related to forced labour. The USTR has alleged that these countries have failed to enforce import bans on goods made with forced labour.

On June 3, the US proposed to impose 12.5 per cent tariffs on 54 countries, including India, for allegedly failing to prohibit the import of goods produced with forced labour. Six countries, Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan, would face an additional 10 per cent import duty.

According to the DGFT notification, the central government can issue a notification at any time to ban the import of specific goods if it finds, based on an inquiry or any other relevant evidence, that those goods have been produced using forced labour.

The procedure for conducting an enquiry by the DGFT into the use of forced labour in the production of such goods will be as prescribed in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.

The DGFT has also added a new para under Chapter 11 (Definition) of the FTP, 2023, under which "Forced Labour" means all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily, as defined under the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).

India is engaged with the US on the matter as both sides are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). PTI RR RR MR

Forced-labour import ban strengthens trade controls, with DGFT inquiry procedures and government power to restrict identified goods. The Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 prohibits the import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or partly, through forced labour. The central government may prohibit specific goods where an inquiry or other relevant evidence indicates forced-labour production. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade will conduct inquiries under the procedure prescribed in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023. Forced labour is defined by reference to the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930, as work or service exacted under threat of penalty without voluntary offer by the person concerned.