Bill 118 hr 7981, also known as the "Stop China's Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act," aims to address the issue of forced labor in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Cobalt is a key component in many electronic devices, and the DRC is one of the largest producers of cobalt in the world.
The bill seeks to prevent the importation of goods produced with forced labor in the DRC, particularly by targeting China, which is a major importer of cobalt from the DRC. The act would require companies to certify that their products are not made with cobalt mined using forced labor, and would impose penalties on those found to be in violation.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to increase transparency in the supply chain, improve monitoring of cobalt mining operations in the DRC, and provide support for efforts to combat forced labor in the region. It also calls for increased diplomatic efforts to engage with China on this issue and encourage them to take action to address forced labor in their supply chains.
Overall, the "Stop China's Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act" aims to combat the exploitation of vulnerable populations in the DRC and ensure that products imported into the United States are not tainted by forced labor.