Australia is facing increasing scrutiny from the United States regarding its approach to forced labour in supply chains, particularly in light of potential tariffs. The US trade representative has criticized Australia for not adequately enforcing prohibitions on imports produced with forced labour. While Australia has implemented the Modern Slavery Act, which mandates businesses to report risks, it lacks penalties for non-compliance. Experts argue that the current laws are insufficient and call for stronger measures, including import bans on goods linked to forced labour. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended Australia's existing framework, asserting that it is among the best globally and that any US tariffs would be unjustified. The debate continues in Australia about the need for more robust legislation to combat forced labour, as concerns about exploitation in supply chains persist. The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner has noted that international pressure is mounting for Australia to enhance its laws, emphasizing that reliance on forced labour gives producers an unfair advantage over US competitors.