Japan and the United States have agreed to set up a task force aimed at eradicating forced labor from supply chains.

Japan's industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai signed a memorandum of cooperation on Friday in Washington.

Nishimura said human rights abuses in supply chains must not be tolerated, and that Japan will step up efforts to tackle the problem with the United States.

Tai said forced labor and human rights violations are global trade issues.

The new task force will include officials from Japan's Trade and Industry Ministry and Foreign Ministry. From the US side, they will come from the office of the Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce and other agencies.

The two sides plan to jointly clarify labor standards and promote the exchange of information.

In June last year, the US prohibited imports of all products made using forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Some European countries have also enacted legislation obliging businesses to respect human rights.