US bans copper imports from Zijin Serbia over evidence of forced labor

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection banned imports of copper and related products from the Serbia Zijin Copper company, citing evidence of forced labor at its facilities in the eastern Serbian city of Bor.

Zijin Copper took over the mining and smelting complex in Bor amid protests against environmental hazards and allegations of forced labor brought in from China.

A press release said all shipments of Zijin Serbia products were detained at all US ports due to evidence reasonably indicating the use of forced labor in their production.

The ban comes in the wake of a CBP investigation which reviewed worker statements, photographs, focus group field notes, text message screenshots, open-source NGO reports, news media, and academic research. “Taken together, the evidence demonstrated that workers at Serbia Zijin are subject to six International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor: abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, and excessive overtime,” the press release said.