The EU and the prohibition on goods produced by child labour and forced labour

Abstract

Child labour and forced labour are practices which are almost universally prohibited. Yet, goods produced with child labour or forced labour can be legally imported into the European Union. This thesis addresses this inconsistency by exploring the feasibility of an EU prohibition on goods produced by child labour and forced labour. The thesis demonstrates that the EU has a strong responsibility to address the conditions under which the products it imports are made. Furthermore there are strong reasons to assume that a prohibition on goods produced by child labour and forced labour is not necessarily contrary to WTO rules on non-discrimination and equal treatment.