U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will detain shipments of copper made by Serbia Zijin Copper D.O.O. after an investigation pointed to forced labor in its production
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it has issued a Withhold Release Order against copper and copper products made in Serbia by Serbia Zijin Copper D.O.O., directing officers to detain those shipments at all U.S. ports of entry effective immediately.
According to CBP, the order was issued because of evidence reasonably indicating the use of forced labor in the company’s production. The agency said the action falls under 19 U.S.C. § 1307, the federal law that bars goods made with forced labor from entering the United States, and that it is the fourth such order issued in fiscal year 2026.
“U.S. manufacturers face unfair competition when foreign companies cut costs by using forced labor,” said CBP Office of Trade Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan S. Thomas. Thomas said that by enforcing forced-labor laws, the agency protects human rights as well as the nation’s economic security.
CBP said the order followed an investigation and review of information indicating the company manufactures copper using forced labor. According to the agency, the evidence it analyzed included worker statements, photographs, focus group field notes, text message screenshots, reports from non-governmental organizations, news media, and academic research.
Taken together, CBP said, the evidence showed that workers at the company are subject to six International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor: abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, and excessive overtime. The agency said those findings establish, by reasonable suspicion, that the work is performed involuntarily and under threat of penalty, and that trade data shows the goods are being, or are likely to be, imported into the United States.
CBP said the order brings the number of Withhold Release Orders and Findings it currently enforces under the statute to 56 and eight, respectively. The agency said importers of detained shipments may either destroy or export them, or seek to demonstrate that the merchandise was not produced with forced labor.
According to CBP, the agency receives forced-labor allegations from government agencies, media, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public, and such reports can be submitted through its Forced Labor Allegation Portal at flallegation.cbp.gov.
