Over 400 stakeholders representing various industries and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) met EU and US government representatives to discuss recent developments, potential areas of cooperation and the role stakeholders can play in implementing effective due diligence in supply chains, an EU press release said.

EU and US stakeholders recently met at a roundtable under the EU-US Trade and Technology Council to discuss due diligence for responsible business conduct in supply chains. The exchange focused on promoting labour rights in supply chains, including the elimination of forced labour and the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement in trade policy.

They also discussed legislative and non-legislative initiatives in the EU and US addressing labour rights in global supply chains, as well as ways to strengthen stakeholder capacity through sharing best practices to conduct due diligence.

They examined a number of case studies of due diligence practices, including in the cotton and textile industry.

The conclusions from the event will feed into the next ministerial meeting of the Council, which will take place before the summer in Sweden.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)