This bill directs the U.S. government to crack down on cobalt mined using forced labor, including child labor, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where more than half the world's cobalt reserves are located and where many mines are owned by Chinese companies. Within 180 days of enactment, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force must investigate forced labor in the DRC's cobalt mining industry and deliver Congress a strategy to keep cobalt tainted by forced labor out of the U.S. market, including goods that are routed through other countries to disguise their origin. The report must identify specific mining entities suspected of using forced labor, flag downstream products (like batteries and electronics) that should be prioritized for customs enforcement, and recommend tools for tracing cobalt supply chains. The task force must also brief Congress every six months on progress and enforcement actions, and must work with outside groups and companies to keep the list of suspect entities updated. This oversight and enforcement mandate would remain in effect for eight years, unless the President certifies sooner that forced labor in the DRC's mining sector has ended. The bill primarily affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection, importers of cobalt-containing products such as electric vehicle batteries and electronics, and companies operating in the DRC's mining sector.
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