Explainer: Fashion’s New Tariff Threat
This piece was originally published in The Business of Fashion on April 30, 2026. By Shayeza Walid This week, the Trump administration took a big step towards imposing new tariffs on fashion imports. A public hearing for trade investigations into 60 economies, including a number of fashion supply hubs and key allies —from Vietnam, India and Bangladesh […]
Forced Labor Takes Center Stage in Trade Policy
This piece was originally published in Sourcing Journal on 3-24-26. By Tara Winter Recent headlines have made one thing clear: forced labor has officially entered the trade war. The Trump administration’s move to investigate 60 trading partners for forced labor under Section 301 of the Trade Act—with the potential to impose tariffs—marks a turning point. What […]
Transparentem Statement on USTR Section 301 Forced Labor Investigations
Yesterday, the U.S. Trade Representative initiated forced labor investigations into 60 of the United States’ largest trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act, a trade enforcement tool historically used to levy tariffs. The stated rationale for the investigations is to determine if those partners have failed to prevent the import of goods produced […]
Transparentem Statement on the Taiwan Textile Federation’s Announcement Urging an Employer Pays Principle
Transparentem welcomes the Taiwan Textile Federation’s recommendation released yesterday urging Taiwanese textile mills to protect migrant workers in the industry through responsible recruitment and employment. This is a critical step toward reducing recruitment abuse and forced labor risks in the industry and advancing protections for foreign migrant workers. We look forward to the Taiwanese Ministry […]
Control Yuan launches probe into alleged forced labor highlighted by NGO
Taipei, Oct. 28 The Control Yuan, Taiwan’s top government watchdog, has launched a probe into possible acts of forced labor involving migrant workers in the country’s textile industry, outlined in a report published in February by United States-based NGO Transparentem.
Transparentem Welcomes Tara Winter as Executive Director
Accomplished international labor and human rights leader Tara Winter joins Transparentem as Executive Director, effective September 2, 2025. She takes over from Founder E. Benjamin Skinner, who has served as Transparentem’s President since its inception in 2015. “This is an important moment in Transparentem’s history. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and look to the […]
Vogue Business – What happens after a brand is called out for worker exploitation?
Non-profit Transparentem uncovered evidence of abuses in the Taiwanese supply chains of several major fashion brands. One response stood out as a rare example of long-term remediation that puts workers before PR.
Unraveling Organic and Ethical Cotton: What They Really Mean and a Path to Improvement
In the fashion and textile industry, certified organic and ethical cotton are often promoted as sustainable and socially responsible alternatives to conventional cotton. These certifications appeal to conscious consumers, but do they always deliver on their promises, or can they obscure the realities of cotton production? Transparentem’s recent investigation into farming practices in India—one of […]
Watch Transparentem’s OECD Side Session Panel, “High Risks and Important Opportunities in the Indian Cotton Sector”
Transparentem hosted a virtual side session at the 2025 OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector to address critical issues of childlabor and forcedlabor risks in Indian cotton at the raw materials level of the supply chain. This session highlighted Transparentem’s investigation into labor abuses in organic and conventional cotton farms […]
Business of Fashion – Why Can’t Fashion Eliminate Labour Exploitation From Its Supply Chains?
Brands like Patagonia, Nike and Lululemon have been working for years to address the exploitation of migrant workers at key fabric suppliers in Taiwan. Despite some progress, the issue has persisted.