ICAR

@somoamsterdam.bsky.social exposes what we already suspected: attacks on human rights due diligence legislation were never about "simplification," they were about maintaining impunity for some of the world's biggest polluters. US companies are conspiring to undo democratically adopted laws

At 11:15 (12/10) join us for Human Rights panel
* Kevin G. Hall @occrp.org
* David McKean @theicar.bsky.social
* Amanda Klasing @amnesty.org
www.forumarmstrade.org/annual2025.h...

To learn more, you can read the full comment here: www.icar.ngo/news/icar-co...

To address a systemic issue such as forced labor in U.S. imports, enforcement bodies must take a systematic approach. In our comment, we argue that forced labor can only be eradicated from U.S. imports if importers are required to provide comprehensive supply chain data upon import.

Even with forced labor import bans that block shipments of products made using forced labor at the border, the U.S. remains the largest importer of goods at risk of being produced using forced labor annually.

Labor rights abuses pose a direct threat to fair competition for US businesses in the global marketplace. Companies that rely on forced labor and other labor rights abuses cut costs on labor to artificially lower prices.

On October 30th, ICAR, join by Humanity Untied Action, & @htlegalcenter.bsky.social submitted a comment to the
U.S. Trade Representative highlighting forced labor and opaque supply chains as significant foreign trade barriers.

EU countries are selling critical energy infrastructure to Trump-aligned fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer - SOMO Since winning a second term, President Trump has rolled out a policy agenda that, amongst other things, gives strong support to the interests of fossil fuel energy companies(opens in new window) . Thi...

Energy Transfer's investments have only been under public scrutiny in Germany, as a result of civil society and parliament activity.

Given the Trump administration’s political agenda, all EU member states must be particularly vigilant with investors from the US. ⚠️

Full analysis ⬇️ 3/3 🧵

After acquiring key energy infrastructure in the Netherlands and Ireland in 2024, Energy Transfer is now trying to buy more in Germany and Poland.

This puts Europe's sovereignty and energy security at risk.

Meanwhile, European regulators appear to be asleep at the wheel. 💤

2/3 🧵

EU countries are selling critical energy infrastructure to Trump-aligned fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer - SOMO Since winning a second term, President Trump has rolled out a policy agenda that, amongst other things, gives strong support to the interests of fossil fuel energy companies(opens in new window) . Thi...

🚨 Fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer is buying up key European energy facilities. Europe should worry...

Red flags?
🚩 Friends with the Trump administration
🚩 A track record of environmental violations
🚩 High hostility towards activists

1/3 🧵

JOINT STATEMENT Call for European Parliament to deliver a credible and ambitious approach on Omnibus I - ECCJ

🚨 NEW joint statement

It's time: the EU’s credibility on human rights & climate is on the line.

Ahead of the #Omnibus I vote, 140+ EU & non-EU CSOs urge MEPs to back a strong, fair deal that protects workers, communities & our planet, not corporate interests.
corporatejustice.org/publications...

Join us for the upcoming webinar hosted by the Global Initiative for Corporate Accountability, "The New Korean Due diligence Bill: The Context, The Contents & What Happens Next" on November 6 at 9:30 AM EST & 12:00 AM EST.

Register for the 9:30 AM EST webinar here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Was a joy to be able to speak about the Thriving Communities Narrative co-created by the Global Initiative for Corporate Accountability and Hope-based Communications at the @iccr.bsky.social Conference earlier this week with such a great group of advocates.

CSDDD: Bad for business, or the bane of bad actors? | Investor Alliance for Human Rights By Noor Hamadeh, Senior Advocacy Counsel at the International Corporate Accountability (ICAR) and Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Associate Director at the Investor Alliance for Human Rights

“The CSDDD is bad for business.” Is it really? Or is that a convenient narrative for those resisting change? In a new joint blog, Noor Hamadeh of @theicar.bsky.social & our own Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt explore the pushback against the EU’s CSDDD. investorsforhumanrights.org/news/csddd-b...

EU-US Trade Deal Threatens EU Corporate Accountability Law The European Parliament should ensure that the European Union’s flagship corporate accountability law, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), does not become a victim of the EU-...

The US fossil fuel industry is using the EU-US trade deal to undermine an EU law requiring companies to reduce their climate impacts and tackle corporate abuses worldwide.

European parliamentarians should fight back.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

Trump reportedly owns more than $600,000 in shares of Nvidia and Apple.

Both companies have financially benefited from special concessions Trump made to them while in office.

The president is profiting off the policies he sets. This is corruption in its rawest form.

Reminder: Despite the Musk-Trump feud, a significant proportion of DOGE agents—who continue to gut essential government functions and endanger your privacy—have close ties to Elon Musk and his companies.

We're continuing to track them here: therevolvingdoorproject.org/doge-staff-a...

California's procurement laws are outdated and toothless against forced labor. AB 381 would fix that—bringing state law in line with federal standards. U.S. Ambassadors + Fresno leaders are urging action. Support the bill. #EndForcedLabor #AB381
Read: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

There are no magic fixes, but Section 307 of the US Tariff Act delivers results. Import bans blocking forced-labor tainted goods from the US market have led to more than $62 million in back wages & fees returned to workers. Read our @opendemocracy.net oped: www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

In response to an @opendemocracy.net op-ed criticizing import bans, we wrote to set the record straight: Import bans push companies to address forced labor in their supply chains in ways voluntary measures never have. That should be applauded—not condemned. www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Solidarity with Fishers - Greenpeace Southeast Asia Greenpeace

We stand in solidarity with the Indonesian fishers who have filed a human trafficking lawsuit against US tuna brand Bumble Bee. It is never easy for individuals to go up against influential corporations, but they are. Join us in standing with them: act.gp/solidarity-with-fishers

Trump’s Labor Department is aiming to rewrite or repeal 60+ regulations, including:

-Minimum wage for home health care workers
-Protections for migrant farm workers
-Construction & mine safety
-OSHA’s ability to punish employers for unsafe workplaces

The "pro-worker” president.

👉 Read our op-ed on Canadian-company GardaWorld's connection to 'Alligator Alcatraz' and the need for Canada to adopt a strong human rights due diligence law to prevent abuse by Canadian companies @business-humanrights.org @amnesty.ca @hrw.org @theicar.bsky.social @devpeacedpcc.bsky.social

In conjunction with the report, CAL has also submitted a WRO petition under Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 requesting a Withhold Release Order to block imports of Brazilian beef and beef byproducts, including tallow, made under conditions of forced labor

Bullsh*t: Forced Labor in Brazil's Beef and Tallow Supply Chains — Corporate Accountability Lab While the U.S. is the second largest consumer of Brazilian beef, the report reveals that the biofuel industry’s growing demands have made it the top purchaser of beef tallow, concentrated fat rendered...

📣 Corporate Accountability Lab's new report "Bullsh*t: Forced Labor in Brazil’s Beef and Tallow Supply Chains" finds endemic forced labor practices on Brazilian ranches supplying cattle to MN meatpacking giants JBS, Marfrig and Minerva.

Read the full report here: bit.ly/3IKtNMj

US Lobbying Groups Target EU Corporate Accountability Law As Europe emerges from a devastating heat wave, the European Parliament should reject efforts, including by industry groups in the United States, to weaken the European Union’s flagship corporate acco...

Most people want a livable planet and fair treatment from businesses.

European parliamentarians should resist corporate lobbying against a law that requires businesses to tackle climate change and address their role in human rights abuses.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Public Citizen leads 54 global groups in a letter to European Parliament in defense of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) - Public Citizen On 30 June, 2025, Public Citizen sent a letter to members of the European Parliament in defense of a strong…

You can read @publiccitizen.bsky.social 's press release here: www.citizen.org/article/publ...

"...They see 2.6x times higher shareholder returns and 4.7x times higher operating margins. And companies with strong due diligence systems will be more resilient as ESG risks become more acute in a climate-changing world.” @publiccitizen.bsky.social

“Undertaking strong human rights and environmental due diligence is both a corporate responsibility and a competitive advantage. Companies with high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance financially outperform peers with weaker practices..." @publiccitizen.bsky.social

Companies lobbying against the #CSDDD are thinking in the short term and putting themselves at a disadvantage in the face of changing global realities. Similar legislation is moving forward in countries like Thailand, South Korea, and Brazil.