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Forced Labor Enforcement

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with enforcing the Section 1307 and UFLPA restrictions. CBP investigates allegations of forced labor from NGO’s, media reports, and e-allegations, as well as based on self-initiated investigations.

In 2017, CBP created a Forced Labor Division tasked with investigating forced labor allegations and enforcing Section 1307. Subsequently, CBP established a second Forced Labor Division to focus on forced labor outside of Asia. Forced labor enforcement is a CBP priority.

Forced Labor Enforcement Statistics… Follow the Numbers

In the last couple of years, bolstered by increased funding, additional staff, and new mandates, CBP has significantly ramped up forced labor enforcement. In the Monthly Operational Update, the Agency reports statistics regarding entries that were targeted for suspected use of forced labor (under the UFLPA and WROs). While targeting alone does not mean the shipment was detained, these figures indicate that CBP has been active in inspecting shipments for potential indications of forced labor.
Below are the entries targeted by CBP to date.

Month	Entries targeted	value
February 2024	540	$306 million
January 2024	424	$236 million
December 2023	450	$187 million
November 2023	331	$125 million
October 2023	504	$199 million
September 2023	259	$102 million
August 2023	320	$68 million
July 2023	388	$107 million
June 2023	405	$239 million
May 2023	460	$197 million
April 2023	377	$159 million
March 2023	400	$122.7 million
February 2023	481	$109 million
January 2023	282	$69 million
December 2022	310	$59 million
November 2022	444	$128 million
October 2022	398	$129.8 million
September 2022	491	$158.6 million
August 2022	838	$266.5 million

CBP also publishes Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act enforcement statistics that report the number and value of entries detained, released, denied, and pending for each industry and country of export. The statistics are updated at least quarterly. However, the statistics do not reflect the number of entries for which a detention response submission was made. The statistics have historically shown that most detentions cover electronics (largely solar products), followed by Apparel, Footwear and Textiles, and Industrial and Manufacturing Materials. The statistics also illustrate that CBP is detaining goods exported from countries other than China.

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Perspectives on Forced Labor Enforcement

Focused Assessments

CBP Focused Assessments now include a component regarding forced labor. The existence of a forced labor code of conduct and procedures is an element in CBP’s risk assessment and determination of whether an importer is exercising reasonable care.

WRO's

If the agency determines that there is a reasonable (but not conclusive) indication that forced labor is used in the production of imported goods, it will issue a Withhold Release Order (“WRO’s), that specifies the products prohibited from importation. The WROs generally cover products, suppliers, and sometimes regions. The WRO authorizes CBP to detain these goods. In order to secure release, importers have the heavy burden of providing information regarding policies and the supply chain as well as extensive documentation to evidence that forced labor was not used to produce the goods.

CBP publishes a list of the WRO’s, which includes products from Brazil, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe, as well as several fishing vessels. The most recent WRO’s have been focused on China, and in particular the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). WROs covering products from XUAR are now handled under the UFLPA process.

We can help your company determine whether your products are subject to a WRO and assist with preparing petitions to secure the release of goods.

Findings

If the Commissioner of Customs determines that information conclusively demonstrates the merchandise is produced by forced labor, formal findings are published in the Customs Bulletin and Federal Register. (19 CFR 12.42(f)). Goods covered by the finding are excluded and can be seized and forfeited. This can also lead to a criminal investigation of the importer and heavy penalties.

There are very few active findings, however, CBP’s Forced Labor Division has indicated that it is likely that many more findings will be issued in the future.