WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has modified the Withhold Release Order (WRO) that was issued on May 11, 2020, against seafood products imported from the Taiwanese fishing vessel Yu Long No. 2. Effective immediately, CBP will no longer detain shipments of seafood harvested by this vessel at U.S. ports of entry, provided the shipments comply with all other U.S. laws.
This marks CBP’s first WRO modification of 2024, reflecting the agency’s ongoing commitment to combating forced labor. Since the implementation of the original order, Yu Long No. 2 has taken significant steps to address forced labor issues identified in its fishing operations. As a result, the vessel’s products are now permitted entry into the U.S.
“Today’s modification is a victory for human rights and proof that CBP’s forced labor enforcement efforts are effective,” said Troy A. Miller, CBP’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. “We remain dedicated to protecting workers’ rights and will continue our efforts until all forced labor is eradicated.”
The original WRO was based on evidence suggesting that several International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor were present in Yu Long No. 2’s operations. Since then, the vessel has made substantial improvements to address these concerns, leading to the lifting of the import ban.
AnnMarie R. Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Trade, emphasized the agency’s commitment to enforcing trade laws that uphold human rights. “Our vigilance in enforcing these laws shows the industry and the world that we are fully committed to combatting forced labor in all forms.”
Under U.S. law (19 U.S. Code § 1307), the importation of goods produced with forced labor is prohibited. CBP has established a process for the modification or revocation of WROs when sufficient evidence of remediation is provided.–News Desk