SIPA Partners Consultant Published in Trade Finance Global on Forced Labour Risks in Southeast Asia

SIPA Partners Consultant Sam Baron was recently published in Trade Finance Global’s special edition magazine on South and Southeast Asia, where he examines how US trade enforcement actions on forced labour are reshaping market access for governments and companies across Southeast Asia.

The article analyses the Trump administration's unprecedented use of Section 301 authority to designate foreign governments' inaction on forced labour as an actionable trade practice — and what that means for the region's largest export economies. Baron traces how this shift builds on bilateral trade agreements negotiated with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam in 2025, which explicitly linked tariff reductions to enforceable commitments to eliminate forced-labour-linked goods from supply chains. For companies sourcing from the region, he argues, credible and proactive human rights due diligence (HRDD) is rapidly becoming a non-negotiable baseline for retaining US market access — not merely a reputational consideration.

SIPA Partners is proud to contribute thought leadership on the evolving intersection of trade policy, human rights, and corporate risk in Southeast Asia.

You can read the full article here.

About SIPA Partners

SIPA Partners is a Tokyo-based strategic intelligence and public affairs advisory firm dedicated to helping clients navigate risks, enhance their reputation, and build trusted stakeholder relationships. Specializing in Japan and Southeast Asia, we provide risk management and public policy research and advisory services. Our expertise ensures clients can preempt and mitigate risks, foresee and adapt to evolving policies and regulations, and seize opportunities in complex markets.

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