legislation or amendments to existing laws. 88 On the eve of the talks, the “Civilian Coalition for Monitoring the Taiwan-US Trade Initiative of the 21st Century” held a forum titled “Can Taiwan-US Trade Eradicate Forced Labor?” The event featured representatives from the Solidarity Center, the Global Labor JusticeInternational Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF), and civil organizations. The forum highlighted critical aspects of the second-phase negotiations, exploring the intersection of free trade with human rights, labor rights, and environmental justice. Civil groups strongly advocated for the inclusion of labor and environmental justice in the trade agreement and called for incorporating public opinions into the agreement’s framework. 89 On April 23, 2024, the European Parliament passed the EU Forced Labor Regulation (EUFLR) by an overwhelming majority (555 votes in favor, 51 against).90 This regulation applies to products imported into the EU, as well as those produced within the EU for domestic consumption or export. Once investigated and confirmed, any products that involve forced labor will be banned from sale, import, and export within the EU. Companies may also face penalties unless removal of forced labor from their supply chains can be demonstrated, allowing their products to re-enter the market.91 Executive Yuan Department of Information Services, “Response to U.S. Release of TaiwanU.S. 21st Century Trade Initiative Second-Phase Negotiation Topics,” April 6, 2024. (URL: https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/9277F759E41CCD91/e9ae1a14-a2a4-4019-9f1b-42fe6a3b8961, last accessed June 4, 2024). Central News Agency, “Taiwan-U.S. Trade Initiative Phase 2 Negotiations May Ban Forced Labor Products from Shelves and Imports,” May 3, 2024. (URL: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202405030323.aspx, last accessed May 28, 2024). 89 Amnesty International Taiwan, “Civil Society Holds Forum Ahead of Taiwan-U.S. 21st Century Trade Negotiations, Calls for Improvements in Labor and Environmental Rights,” April 29, 2024. (URL: https://www.amnesty.tw/node/18476, last accessed June 3, 2024). 90 Ministry of Economic Affairs Investment Promotion Division, “European Parliament Passes the 'Regulation on Prohibiting Forced Labor Products' (EUFLR) Proposal by an Overwhelming Majority,” April 25, 2024. (URL: https://investtaiwan.nat.gov.tw/bhr/zh-tw/article/59, last accessed September 2, 2024). 91 Liu, Wen-Yu, “European Parliament Passes the 'Prohibition of Products Produced with Forced Labor in the EU Market' to Protect Labor Rights,” Academia Sinica Institute of Law, Taiwan AI Action Network, May 2, 2024. 88 109