COBALT Supply Chain Act

Sponsor: Christopher H. Smith (Republican-NJ)March 24, 2025

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

U.S. to block products with China-processed cobalt, presumed made with forced labor.

This bill aims to block products with cobalt processed in China from entering the U.S. It would assume this cobalt was made with child or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To import these products, companies would need to show strong proof that the cobalt was not processed in China.

What Would Change

Today, U.S. law bans goods made with forced labor, but importers are not automatically presumed to be using it for cobalt refined in China. After this bill, goods containing cobalt refined in China would be automatically assumed to be made with forced or child labor, and blocked from entering the U.S. unless importers provide clear evidence otherwise. Also, the President would annually certify that most federal vehicle purchases are free of child or forced labor parts, which is not currently required.

Key Provisions

Blocks goods containing cobalt refined in China from entering the U.S. if they are presumed to be made with forced or child labor.
Allows importers to bring in these goods if they can clearly prove the cobalt was not refined in China.
Requires a government task force to create a plan to stop goods made with forced or child labor cobalt from entering the U.S. market.
Requires the President to certify each year that most federal vehicles are free of parts made with child or forced labor from the Democratic Republic of Congo or China's Xinjiang region.

View on Congress.gov

HR 2310 · 119th Congress · March 24, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10

COBALT Supply Chain Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity