India has moved to prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour by amending the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, issued Notification No. 23/2026-27 on July 13, 2026, introducing a new Para 2.20B and Para 11.64 to the policy.
Under the new provision, the import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or partly, through the use of forced labour will be prohibited. The Central Government will have the power to specify, through separate notifications, the goods covered under the ban based on the findings of enquiries or other relevant material.
The notification also states that the Director General of Foreign Trade will conduct enquiries into the use of forced labour in the production of goods. The procedure for such enquiries will be prescribed in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
A new definition of “Forced Labour” has also been added under Para 11.64 of the FTP, 2023. It defines forced labour as all work or service exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the person has not offered voluntarily, in line with the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).
The provisions introduced through Notification No. 23/2026-27 will come into effect after the expiry of 30 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. The notification strengthens India’s framework for restricting imports of goods produced through forced labour.
The development comes as the US Trade Representative (USTR) conducts Section 301 investigations into 60 economies, including India, for allegedly failing to enforce bans on forced-labour goods. The US has proposed additional tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 54 of these countries.
BBW News Desk is the editorial team of BigBreakingWire, a digital newsroom focused on global finance, markets, geopolitics, trade policy, and macroeconomic developments.
Our editors monitor government decisions, central bank actions, international trade movements, corporate activity, and economic indicators to deliver fast, fact-based reporting for investors, professionals, and informed readers.
The BBW News Desk operates under the editorial standards of BigBreakingWire, prioritizing accuracy, verified information, and timely updates on major global developments.
