As I understand it, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is required by Congress (Trafficking Victims’ Protection Act (TVPA) of 2005) to list the goods produced by forced labor or child labor and the countries which produced those things. At the end of last year, Congress told the DOL to issue that list by the end of 2009 (William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008). Change.org and Polaris Project are asking us to write the DOL to encourage it to make it’s deadline.
I’d think a list like this would be very difficult to compile, even if you did not have businesses arguing against it (which I assume some lobbyist or two is actually doing). There was an informational meeting held on May 28, 2008. Perhaps now, almost five years later, the DOL is ready to finger the companies and products made in unjust conditions. You can join the effort here.
For some time I tried to avoid buying products made in China, because of China’s use of slave labor. Eventually I had to give it up, because it was impossible to avoid Chinese goods unless one was rich enough to buy the most expensive stuff.
I have felt your pain. I’ve specifically avoided Chinese-made shoes, b/c I heard shoes had a good chance of being made in terrible conditions. I think I’ve succeeded, but I remember one time I could not find anything in the store from another country. My dress shoes, I’m pleased to say, are from Denmark.