Intensified UFLPA scrutiny

Major U.S. Trade Enforcement Development: Forced Labor Under Intensified Scrutiny.

On March 12, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, led by Ambassador Jamieson Greer, launched sweeping Section 301 investigations into 60 economies for failing to prohibit and effectively enforce bans on imports produced with forced labor. This marks one of the most expansive trade enforcement actions in recent years.

In practical terms, this recent development raises the bar for importer due diligence and reinforces expectations around supply chain transparency, multi-tier visibility, and demonstrable “reasonable care.”

Companies that lack deep insight beyond Tier 1 suppliers may face:
⚠️ Shipment detentions
⚠️ Costly investigations
⚠️ Reputational exposure
⚠️ Disruption to sourcing strategies

At Maersk, our Trade & Tariff Studio Risk Pre-Screening capabilities help organizations proactively identify forced labor exposure across product value chains before goods ship.
We combine:
✔ Multi-tier supplier mapping
✔ Forced labor risk intelligence
✔ Trade compliance expertise
✔ Actionable reporting aligned with U.S. Customs and Border Protection expectations

The result: stronger compliance posture, reduced border risk, and greater confidence in global sourcing decisions.

If your organization is reassessing supply chain risk in light of these investigations, I’d be glad to share how we’re helping importers stay ahead of enforcement.

Feel free to reach out to us in Maersk directly to learn more.