U.S. CBP issues withhold release order on Chinese fishing vessel
CBP will detain seafood harvested by the vessel due to reasonable suspicion of forced labor use.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on May 28, 2025, issued a “withhold release order” (WRO) on against a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel. Effective immediately, CBP officers at all U.S. ports of entry will detain seafood, including squid, harvested by the vessel due to reasonable suspicion of forced labor use.
According to the CBP release, forced labor indicators identified include abuse of vulnerability, isolation, and debt bondage, which allowed the vessel to lower labor costs.