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H.R. 1651 99th Congress House

Slave Labor Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to prohibit the importation into the United States of articles of foreign businesses that export certain goods and technology from Communist regimes, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 21, 1985 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommunist countriesForced laborForeign Trade and Investments
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Import restrictionsImportsInternational AffairsMost favored nation principle
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This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 8, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from State, Treasury, Labor, Customs, ITC, USTR.
Mar 26, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Trade.
Mar 21, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Mar 21, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 8, 1985

Executive Comment Requested from State, Treasury, Labor, Customs, ITC, USTR.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Slave Labor Act of 1985 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the importation into the United States or sale within the United States of all goods which have not been affirmatively demonstrated not to have been produced by convict, forced, or indentured labor. Directs the Secretary of Defense to enforce such prohibition and to issue reports every six months identifying such goods.

Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to provide that products from any communist regime shall not be eligible to receive non-discriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment).

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1651: Slave Labor Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1651/
MLA
"H.R. 1651: Slave Labor Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1651/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1651, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1651/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1651: Slave Labor Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1651/)
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