Why does supplier due diligence matter for procurement teams?

Because a procurement decision creates legal exposure that sits with the buying organisation, not the supplier. Three exposures are distinct and are commonly confused. Sanctions: US civil liability is effectively strict, so dealing with a blocked party is prohibited whether or not you knew. Bribery: under the UK Bribery Act 2010 s.7 an organisation commits an offence where an associated person - which includes suppliers, agents and intermediaries performing services on its behalf - pays a bribe, and adequate procedures is the only defence; the US FCPA attaches comparable liability for third-party intermediaries. Forced labour: reporting duties and import bans attach to the buyer, not the factory. A completed supplier questionnaire is not due diligence - it is the supplier's own account of itself.