Establishment of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force Under Section 741 of the United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act

This executive order establishes the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to monitor U.S. enforcement of the ban on importing goods made with forced labor under the Tariff Act of 1930. The Task Force includes representatives from State, Treasury, Justice, Labor, and USTR, and will make decisions by consensus or majority vote on actions under sections 742-744 of the USMCA Implementation Act.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 30587

Key directives

Establish Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to monitor enforcement of 19 U.S.C. 1307
Task Force chaired by Secretary of Homeland Security
Include representatives from State, Treasury, Justice, Labor, and USTR
Chair may invite other agencies as members or observers
Members may designate agency officers as representatives
Agencies shall ensure necessary staff available for Task Force duties
Task Force shall endeavor to decide actions by consensus under sections 742-744 of USMCA Act
If no consensus, majority vote decides; Chair breaks ties
Each agency bears its own expenses for Task Force functions

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Task Force establishment upon signing
DHS Secretary designated as Chair

Near term (90d)

Agency representative designations to Task Force
Staff allocation for Task Force support

Long term

Ongoing monitoring of forced labor enforcement
Decision-making on actions under USMCA sections 742-744

Risks & tensions

Consensus requirement with majority vote fallback may slow enforcement decisions
Self-funding structure (each agency bears own costs) may create resource competition
Vague 'as appropriate' standard for inviting additional agencies
No explicit enforcement mechanisms or metrics for monitoring effectiveness