News from 2023


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Argentina

Release: ARGENTINA (Tier 1). The Government of Argentina fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity;...



2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Papua New Guinea

Release: PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Tier 3). The Government of Papua New Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Papua New...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Honduras

Release: HONDURAS (Tier 2). The Government of Honduras does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19...


Chairman McCaul Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing Assessing U.S. Efforts to Counter CCP’s Belt and Road Diplomacy

News Release: Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul gave the following remarks at a full committee hearing on assessing U.S. efforts to counter China’s Coercive Belt and Road Diplomacy.


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Niger

Release: NIGER (Tier 2). The Government of Niger does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Botswana

Release: BOTSWANA (Tier 2 Watch List). The Government of Botswana does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. These efforts included investigating slightly more trafficking crimes; continuing to refer all identified victims to services;...


Special Representative Syed’s Travel to Iraq with U.S. Private Sector Delegation

Release: From June 11 to June 15, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Dilawar Syed traveled to Baghdad, Iraq. Syed was the senior U.S. government official participant in a U.S.-Iraq Business Council (USIBC) delegation to Iraq. This delegation demonstrated the tremendous interest from the...


U.S. Department of State Debars Ten Persons for Violating or Conspiring to Violate the Arms Export Control Act

News Release: On June 15, 2023, the U.S. Department of State published in the Federal Register a notice of ten persons statutorily debarred for having been convicted of violating, or conspiring to violate, the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751, et seq.). This action, pursuant to section 127.7(b) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR parts 120-130), highlights the Department’s responsibility to protect the integrity of U.S. defense trade.


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Colombia

Release: COLOMBIA (Tier 1). The Government of Colombia meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore...


McCaul ‘Deeply Disturbed’ by Admin Re-Engaging in Talks with Iran

News Release: Washington, D.C. - Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to President Joe Biden underscoring concern over recent revelations that the administration is pursuing a new nuclear deal with Iran, calling into question the administration’s intent to adhere to its legal obligations under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA).


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Seychelles

Release: SEYCHELLES (Tier 1). The Government of Seychelles fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government made key achievements to do so during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Seychelles...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Thailand

Release: THAILAND (Tier 2). The Government of Thailand does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Haiti

Release: HAITI (Tier 2 Watch List). The Government of Haiti does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. These efforts included initiating two prosecutions under the anti-trafficking law, along with assigning investigative judges in one...


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Shahid

News Release: The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Ukraine

Release: UKRAINE (Tier 2). The Government of Ukraine does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period; therefore Ukraine remained on Tier 2.


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Fiji

Release: FIJI (Tier 2). The Government of Fiji does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Sudan

Release: SUDAN (Tier 2). The Government of Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Tonga

Release: TONGA (Tier 2). The Government of Tonga does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,...


2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Canada

Release: CANADA (Tier 1). The Government of Canada fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore...