CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Linglong International Europe D.O.O. Zrenjanin—a Serbian tire manufacturer. Effective immediately, any shipments of their tires arriving at U.S. ports get detained and seized.
This isn’t a tariff dispute or trade disagreement. This is federal enforcement against forced labor in supply chains.
What the Investigation Found
CBP investigators analyzed worker statements, employment contracts, photographs, text messages, and testimony. They cross-referenced open-source reports from nonprofits, news media, and academic research.
The evidence identified nine International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor at Linglong’s Serbian facility:
Workers had identity documents retained by management—a classic trafficking tactic. Workers couldn’t leave without their documents. Management controlled their ability to move.
Intimidation and threats were used systematically. Workers reported being threatened with deportation, wage withholding, and physical harm.
Workers were isolated from outside contact. Limited ability to communicate with family, friends, or outside advocates. Isolation prevents reporting and escape.
Excessive overtime was mandatory. Workers reported 12-16 hour shifts with minimal days off. Exhaustion breaks resistance.
Wages were withheld. Workers didn’t receive full payment. Money owed creates debt and obligation.
Debt bondage trapped workers. Workers owed money for housing, food, and transportation—debts that increased faster than wages could pay them.
Abusive living conditions were documented. Housing was overcrowded, unsanitary, and inadequate.
Deception was used in recruitment. Workers were promised wages and conditions that didn’t materialize.
Vulnerability was exploited. Workers were economically vulnerable, often from marginalized populations.
“Taken together, this evidence shows forced labor,” said CBP in the official order.
What This Actually Means
Every Linglong tire shipment arriving at U.S. ports gets stopped. Importers have three options: destroy the shipment, export it back, or prove the tires weren’t made with forced labor.
If they can’t prove it, the tires don’t enter the U.S. market.
This protects American workers from competing against products made through exploitation. It protects consumers from knowingly buying goods made with forced labor. It sends a message to manufacturers globally: the U.S. market isn’t available if you use forced labor.
The Legal Framework
The law is Section 1307 of U.S. Code Title 19—the Tariff Act. It prohibits goods made with forced labor from entering the United States.
When CBP has reasonable evidence of forced labor, they issue a Withhold Release Order. The order remains in effect until the company proves forced labor isn’t part of their production or CBP determines the situation has changed.
This is Linglong’s WRO. It’s the fifth in 2025 and the second in fiscal year 2026.
The Broader Picture
CBP now oversees 55 Withhold Release Orders and nine Findings under this same law. Fifty-five companies globally are blocked from U.S. markets due to forced labor evidence.
The orders cover sectors including agriculture, textiles, manufacturing, and mining. They cover countries including China, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and multiple others.
The pattern is clear: CBP is systematically identifying and blocking forced labor goods.
How CBP Investigates
Investigation sources include:
Government agencies sharing intelligence. U.S. State Department, Department of Labor, and international agencies report forced labor concerns.
Media investigations. Journalists reporting on factory conditions and labor abuses.
Nonprofits and human rights organizations. Groups like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and International Labour Organization document abuse.
Public reports. Workers, family members, or concerned citizens report forced labor.
“We receive allegations from all these sources,” said CBP in a statement. “When we have reasonable evidence, we investigate and act.”
For Linglong, the investigation combined all these sources into a comprehensive picture of forced labor.
What Importers Can Do
Companies holding detained Linglong shipments have options:
Destroy the shipment. Accept the loss and move on.
Export it back to Serbia. Ship it somewhere else willing to accept forced labor goods.
Demonstrate forced labor wasn’t involved. Provide evidence that their specific shipment was produced without forced labor. This is extremely difficult because the problem is systemic at the facility.
Most importers choose to destroy shipments or absorb the loss rather than attempt to prove an exception.
The Economic Impact
Tire imports from Serbia will now be limited to non-Linglong suppliers. Importers will source tires from other manufacturers—companies that meet U.S. labor standards.
This affects Linglong’s bottom line. A major market is now closed. That creates pressure to change practices—or go out of business.
It also affects U.S. importers and retailers. They’ll need to find alternative suppliers, potentially at higher cost. That cost may be passed to consumers.
But the alternative is allowing forced labor goods to undercut American workers and compete in American markets. That’s not acceptable.
Why This Matters
Forced labor isn’t some distant problem. It’s real. It affects millions globally. And it affects American workers competing against products made through exploitation.
When a tire made with forced labor costs 30% less than an American-made tire, American manufacturers struggle. American workers lose jobs. American businesses close.
CBP’s approach: eliminate that competition by blocking forced labor goods at the border.
What People Should Know
If you’re buying tires, electronics, clothing, or other goods, you can support ethical supply chains by:
Asking where products are made. Demand transparency from companies.
Choosing products from companies with labor certifications. Look for fair labor practices.
Supporting companies with ethical supply chain audits. Companies that verify their suppliers don’t use forced labor.
Reporting suspected forced labor. Call CBP at 1-800-BE-ALERT or report through their e-Allegations system.
“Americans should not have to compete with products made through exploitation,” said CBP’s Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner. “By preventing forced-labor goods from entering U.S. commerce, CBP helps ensure American workers and businesses compete on a level playing field.”
The Pattern Going Forward
With 55 WROs in effect, CBP is creating a blacklist of manufacturers using forced labor. Companies know: use forced labor and lose access to the U.S. market.
That’s powerful incentive. A company losing 20-30% of global sales because of forced labor allegations reconsiders their practices.
Some companies change. Some go out of business. Some move operations elsewhere. But they lose the U.S. market.
That’s the enforcement strategy: market access as incentive for ethical practices.
The Bottom Line
CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Linglong International Europe D.O.O. Zrenjanin for using forced labor to manufacture tires. All shipments are detained at U.S. ports. The tires don’t enter the U.S. market unless forced labor can be eliminated.
This is part of a broader enforcement pattern. CBP has issued 55 such orders against companies globally using forced labor.
The message is consistent: the U.S. market is closed to forced labor goods. Use forced labor, lose access to America. Change your practices, and market access is possible again.
That’s enforcement that actually works.
