Cabinet Approves Forced-Labor Import Ban

Israel's cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to ban imports of goods produced wholly or partly through forced labor. The decision instructs Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat to establish rules aligned with accepted international-law standards. An interministerial team led by the National Economic Council will develop an implementation and enforcement mechanism for cabinet approval within 90 days, including a competent authority, product-identification criteria, reporting and appeals. The measure follows new U.S. tariffs that raised the rate on Israeli goods from 10% to 12.5%, with Israeli officials hoping the ban will help restore the lower rate.