Americans stop import of tires from Zrenjanin’s Linglong – Reason: “Forced labor”

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Seizure Order on shipments of automobile tires manufactured in Serbia by the company Linglong International Europe doo Zrenjanin.

The decision is effective immediately, and CBP officers at all ports of entry to the U.S. will detain shipments of these tires due to evidence that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in their production, a statement from yesterday said.

This order was issued for violating a provision of the law that prohibits the entry into the United States of goods produced through forced labor. When CBP has evidence that imported goods were produced through forced labor, the Agency, as it is emphasized, takes measures to detain such shipments through such orders.

– The message is clear: The United States will not tolerate forced labor in supply chains – said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott.

– Americans should not have to compete with products made through exploitation – said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan Thomas of CBP’s Office of Trade. – By preventing forced-labor goods from entering U.S. commerce, CBP helps ensure American workers and businesses compete on a level playing field.

The order, which concerns the Zrenjanin factory, is the result of a CBP investigation and review of information indicating that Linglong is producing automobile tires using forced labor. CBP said it analyzed worker statements, photographs, employment contracts, field focus group notes, screenshots of text messages, open-source NGO reports, media reports, and academic research.

– The evidence demonstrated that workers at Linglong are subject to nine International Labor Organization indicators of forced labor: retention of identity documents, intimidation and threats, isolation, excessive overtime, withholding of wages, debt bondage, abusive living and working conditions, deception, and abuse of vulnerability. The facts underlying these indicators show, by reasonable suspicion, that workers are engaged in forced labor – CBP stated.

It added that importers of detained shipments can request destruction or re-export of the shipments, or try to prove that the goods were not produced by forced labor.

B. P.

Linglong International Europe d.o.o. Zrenjanin

Linglong Zrenjanin

US Customs and Border Protection

CBP

International Labor Organization

tires

export of tires

stopping exports

forced labor