Donald Trump is right for once. The EU is soft on slave labour
Posted on: 11 August 2026
Surely we are past the point of cutting sweatshops some slack? writes Dr Alan Eustace, School of Law, in an analysis piece in The Irish Times.
Writing about the latest round of tariffs imposed by US President Trump on the EU, for failing to enforce a ban on forced labour in supply chains that pass through Europe.
In the piece Dr Eustace argues that despite not having a leg to stand on when it comes to workers’ rights, Trump is right that the EU is soft on slave labour. He makes the case for what the EU can and should do to crack down on forced labour, through trade agreements and laws that govern access to the internal market for developing countries and multinational corporations.
He argues these tariffs should be a wake-up call for Ireland to make this a priority for its current Presidency of the Council.
Read the full article on The Irish Times website.