What are the existing U.S. Laws regarding the importation of Laogai goods?
The importation of Chinese forced labor-made goods into the U.S. is illegal, according to section 1307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which states that it is illegal to import any product that is produced in whole or in part by prison labor of any kind. In 1992, the need to directly confront the Chinese regarding this issue became apparent, leading to the signing of a document known as the “Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States of America and the Peoples Republic of China on Prohibiting Import and Export Trade in Prison Labor Products” (here referred to as MOU). However, since that time, China has continued to export prison labor products to the U.S. in blatant disregard of the MOU. In order to promote further compliance with the terms of the MOU, US and China in 1994 negotiated another agreement entitled the “Statement of Cooperation on the 1992 MOU Between the US and the PRC on Prohibiting Import and Export Trade in Prison Labor Products” (here referred to as SOC). The SO
