Serbian Copper Banned in US on Grounds of Forced Labour

[ABS News Service/18.06.2026]

Customs and Border Protection is banning copper and copper products manufactured in Serbia by Serbia Zijin Copper effective immediately, due to evidence reasonably indicating the use of forced labor in their production.

When CBP has evidence indicating imported goods are made with forced labor, the agency acts to detain those shipments through Withhold Release Orders.

“US manufacturers face unfair competition when foreign companies cut costs by using forced labor,” said CBP Office of Trade Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan Thomas. “By enforcing our laws against forced labor, CBP safeguards human rights as well as our nation’s economic security.”

This order stems from a CBP investigation and review of information that Serbia Zijin manufactures copper and copper products using forced labor. CBP said analyzed the following supporting evidence: worker statements, photographs, focus group field notes, text message screenshots, open-source non-government organization reports, news media and academic research.

Taken together, the evidence demonstrated that workers at Serbia Zijin are subject to six International Labor Organization indicators of forced labor: abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents and excessive overtime, CBP said.