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U.S. CBP to detain copper imports from Serbian producer due to forced labor

Withhold release order (WRO) issued due to indications of forced labor

june 16, 2026

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today issued a withhold release order (WRO) to immediately detain imports of copper and copper products manufactured in Serbia by a Serbian copper producer due to indications of forced labor.

CBP initiated this measure following an investigation and a review of trade import data indicating that the copper products are being, or are likely to be, imported into the United States.

The CBP investigation found that workers at the Serbian producer are subject to six International Labour Organization (ILO) indicators of forced labor, specifically the abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, and excessive overtime. These factors establish a reasonable suspicion that the workers are engaged in forced labor.

For more information, contact a professional with KPMG Trade & Customs services:

 

Andrew Siciliano
Partner, U.S. & Global Practice Leader

E: asiciliano@kpmg.com

Doug Zuvich
Partner

E: dzuvich@kpmg.com

Irina Vaysfeld
Principal

E: ivaysfeld@kpmg.com

John L. McLoughlin
Principal

E: jlmcloughlin@kpmg.com

Luis (Lou) Abad
Principal

E: labad@kpmg.com

George Zaharatos
Principal

E: gzaharatos@kpmg.com

Christopher Young
Principal

E: christopheryoung@kpmg.com

Amie Ahanchian
Principal

E: aahanchian@kpmg.com

Gisele Belotto
Principal

E: gbelotto@kpmg.com

Steve Brotherton
Principal

E: sbrotherton@kpmg.com

Jessica Libby
Principal

E: jlibby@kpmg.com

Dawn Olesky
Principal

E: dolesky@kpmg.com

Frances Xing
Principal

E: francesxing@kpmg.com

 

 

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