By Nneka Nwogwugwu
US Customs and Border Protection on Friday imposed a new import ban on seafood from a Chinese fishing fleet.
It said that the agency is using forced labour on its 32 vessels, including abuses against many Indonesian workers.
CBP said it will immediately detain tuna, swordfish and other products from the Dalian Ocean Fishing Co Ltd at United States ports of entry.
The “withhold release order” banning the imports also applies to other end-use products containing seafood from the company, such as canned tuna and pet food, a CBP official said.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that the action marks the first time that CBP has banned imports from an entire fishing fleet, as opposed to individual vessels targeted in the past.
“DHS will continue to aggressively investigate the use of forced labour by distant water fishing vessels, and by a wide range of other industries,” Mayorkas told a news briefing. “Producers and US importers alike should understand that there will be consequences for entities that attempt to exploit workers to sell goods in the United States.”
CBP officials said the agency’s investigation revealed that many Indonesian workers hired by Dalian Ocean Fishing vessels found conditions far different than what they expected and were subjected to physical violence, withholding of pay, debt bondage and abusive working and living conditions.
In a statement cited by Aljazeera, the State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the US will promote accountability for those who use forced labour “to exploit individuals for profit” and to ensure that the “voiceless are heard and protected”.