Labor Rights Group Petitions CBP to Stop Cotton Fabric from Uzbekistan
CBP should prohibit the import of cotton yarn and fabric from Uzbekistan because the cotton is harvested by forced labor, said the International Labor Rights Forum and Cotton Campaign in a letter to the agency (here). The groups say cotton processors in Uzbekistan use only forced labor to manufacture the cotton and fabric. The government-run cotton industry requires its citizens to work in the cotton production system or potentially face a number of disciplinary actions, including loss of state welfare and physical abuse, they said. A press release on the complaint is (here).
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CBP has the authority under the Tariff Act of 1930 to stop the imports of goods produced by forced labor, the letter said. Until the Department of Homeland Security makes a decision on the request, CBP should immediately detain "all pending and future imports of goods manufactured by Daewoo International Corporation, Indorama Kokand Textiles, and other unidentified producers in Uzbekistan," they said. "We request that all port directors are directed to withhold release into the United States all shipments of cotton products" from those and other companies using cotton from Uzbekistan. The groups submitted a number of other documents they say prove Uzbekistan is using forced labor in its cotton production.