15. ANALISIS KEBIJAKAN PEMERINTAH AMERIKA SERIKAT ERA PRESIDEN BARACK OBAMA TERHADAP PRAKTIK FORCED LABOUR DI INDUSTRI PERIKANAN THAILAND 2009-2014

Abstract

Thailand is the third largest fishery products exporter to the United States. There are two
Thailand's fishery products that has a large proportion of the United States imports, canned
tuna controls 51% of the total imports and shrimp with 11%. Both products are the type of
fish that is most widely consumed in the United States. Behind the magnitude of Thailand's
role in the supply of fisheries products to the United States there is a fact that most of these
products are produced through forced labor practices. Under its domestic law, namely Section
307 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 the government prohibited to import products
produced by forced labor, however the US government ignores the law and keeping the
import policy towards Thailand. This study tries to analyze the policy by using descriptive
analytical research. Based on wide range data related to the supply and consumption of
fishery products in the United States along with realism theory argument about policy making
that prioritize self-interest, this study found that US government policy to ignores their
national law and keeping the import policy towards Thailand was influenced by their national
interest to ensure food security for its people.