[Forced Labor Series] Mexico’s Response to Forced Labor with Francisco de la Cruz

In this episode we continue with our Forced Labor series and focus on the impact of forced labor regulations on international trade, with a particular emphasis on Mexico. Our special guest, Francisco De La Cruz, a former Mexican customs official turned legal counsel will provide on-ground insights on this critical topic. Main Points Forced labor issue, especially focusing on the Mexican perspective. As a part of the USMCA treaty, Mexico, along with Canada and the U.S., is required to implement a forced labor program, putting a spotlight on this area. Francisco De La Cruz recounts his experience working with the Mexican tax administration service while shedding light on the country's legal framework, including the constitutional amendment related to human rights, labor rights, and how they've become constitutional rights in Mexico. The hosts dive into cases where US Customs has seized goods suspected to be a product of forced labor. An example is highlighted where men's shirts made from cotton grown in the Uyghur region of China (known for forced labor) were seized by the U.S. authorities, underscoring the intricacies of supply chain management. An important discussion evolves around a recently published decree in Mexico, which acknowledges that goods imported into the country will be subject to non-regulation if they are produced entirely or partially through forced or compulsory labor, including child labor. The episode concludes with an examination of potential measures that companies could take to comply with forced labor regulations, such as Responsible Business Conduct Guidelines and Transparency in Supply Chains Act. This episode of the "Simply Trade" podcast provides a comprehensive overview of how forced labor regulations are shaping international trade dynamics, with a keen focus on Mexico's stance. It showcases the serious implications of these policies on global supply chains, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt and comply for ethical and regulatory reasons. Enjoy the show! Host: Andy Shiles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyshiles/  Host/Producer: Lalo Solorzano: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/  Co-Producer: Mara Marquez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-marquez-a00a111a8/ Show references: Global Training Center - www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com Simply Trade Podcast - twitter.com/SimplyTradePod  Francisco De La Cruz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisco-de-la-cruz-b5a10625/  Grupo Aduanero Legal - [email protected] or [email protected] Contact [email protected] or message @SimplyTradePod for: Advertising and sponsoring on Simply Trade Requests to be on the show as guest Suggest any topics you would like to hear about Simply Trade is not a law firm or an advisor. The topics and discussions conducted by Simply Trade hosts and guests should not be considered and is not intended to substitute legal advice. You should seek appropriate counsel for your own situation. These conversations and information are directed towards listeners in the United States for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be In substitute for legal advice. No listener or viewer of this podcast should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this podcast without first seeking legal advice from counsel. Information on this podcast may not be up to date depending on the time of publishing and the time of viewership. The content of this posting is provided as is, no representations are made that the content is error free. The views expressed in or through this podcast are those are the individual speakers not those of their respective employers or Global Training Center as a whole. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this podcast are hereby expressly disclaimed.