On Thursday, the United States banned the import of automotive tyres produced in Serbian Zrenjanin by Chinese company Shandong Linglong Tire Co. due to suspicion that this company was utilizing forced labor.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press release, an injunction was issued to suspend imports of tyres produced in Zrenjanin, meaning that shipments of these tyres will be halted ‘because of evidence indicating legitimately the usage of forced labour during their production’.
"The message is clear – the United States will not tolerate forced labour in supply chains," said Commissioner for Customs and Border Protection Rodney Scott, as quoted in the press release.
The CBP claimed that its decision was the consequence of its own investigation into the usage of forced labour in the production of Linglong tyres. The Agency has reported that it has analysed "staff statements, photos, employment contracts, notes from focus groups, screenshots of text messages, reports from NGOs available in open sources, media reports and research".
Serbia was besides called byEuropean Parliament and UN human rights rapporteurs to analyse allegations of exploitation.
Last December, VW-owned MAN Truck & Bus announced that it had stopped buying tires from Linglong after reports of worker exploitation.
Construction of the Linglong mill began in 2019 as 1 of many Chinese projects in Serbia that made the country become a Balkan centre for Chinese investments.
Source: Balkan Insight
BIS improvement — survey Bulletin
