CBP to Stop Shipments from Another Fishing Vessel Over Forced Labor Concerns

CBP issued a withhold release order for imported "seafood harvested by the Da Wang, a Vanuatu-flagged, Taiwan-owned distant water fishing vessel," CBP said in a news release . Effective Aug. 18, CBP will stop seafood from the vessel at all U.S. ports of entry, it said.

CBP said the WRO is based on information that “that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor, including physical violence, debt bondage, withholding of wages, and abusive living and working conditions.” Importers of the goods can either re-export the detained shipments or provide information to CBP to demonstrate the goods are not produced with forced labor.

The year has been busy so far for CBP, with six new WROs issued and the recent penalty collection involving forced labor (see 2008140016). "The agency strongly encourages the trade community to closely monitor all parts of their supply chains to ensure fair business and labor practices,” said Brenda Smith, CBP’s executive assistant commissioner in the Office of Trade. “We cannot achieve our goal of creating and maintaining an ethical and humane U.S. supply chain without the support of our industry partners, but there will be consequences for those who fail to meet government standards.”