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HR 320 105th Congress House

Chinese Slave Labor Act

Official title: To prohibit the entry into the United States of items produced, grown, or manufactured in the People's Republic of China with the use of forced labor.

Introduced: June 4, 1997 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance ChinaCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCrime and Law EnforcementDiplomacy
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
East AsiaFines (Penalties)Forced laborGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHuman rightsImport restrictionsInternational AffairsInternational agenciesInternational labor activitiesLabor and EmploymentLawPrison labor
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 14, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 14, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Chinese Slave Labor Act - Prohibits the importation of Chinese products unless: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury determines that they are not grown or manufactured with the use of forced labor; and (2) such determination is based on consultations with certain international organizations conducting inspections and an importer's certification to the Secretary that a product was not grown or manufactured with the use of forced labor. Requires the United States to use all diplomatic efforts to persuade China to permit representatives of such international organizations to inspect all facilities holding detainees to assure that products for export are not being produced with the use of forced labor.

Sets forth civil penalties for violations of such prohibition and the making of a false certification.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jun 4, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 320: Chinese Slave Labor Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-320/
MLA
"H.R. 320: Chinese Slave Labor Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-320/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 320, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-320/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 320: Chinese Slave Labor Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-320/)
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