CBP Issues Withhold Release Order on Taiwanese Bicycle Manufacturer Over Forced Labor Concerns
Citing forced labor indicators, CBP has issued a withhold release order blocking imports of bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories from Taiwanese manufacturer Giant Manufacturing.
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Following an investigation of the company, CBP said it discovered five forced labor indicators: abuse of vulnerability; abusive working and living conditions; debt bondage; withholding of wages; and excessive overtime. The forced labor indicators were developed by the International Labour Organization, a U.N. agency.
"Giant profited by imposing such abuse, resulting in goods produced below market value and undercutting American businesses by millions of dollars in unjustly earned profits," a Sept. 24 news release said. CBP said this WRO is the third issued in 2025 and the fourth issued in FY 2025, which ends on Sept. 30.
International Trade Today was unable to reach Giant for comment, but the company has noted that it has been unable to get all of its suppliers to sign on to a supplier code of conduct, which compels suppliers "to uphold the highest standards in legal compliance, ethical behavior, environmental protection, and product quality," according to a 2024 environmental, social and governance report. Of the 233 suppliers in Taiwan that received the code of conduct and commitment letter, 186 suppliers have signed and returned the documents, which translates into a response rate of 79.8%, the company said.
Giant also said in its ESG report that it has a regulatory compliance management framework with designated personnel to "ensure comprehensive monitoring of human rights-related compliance." This includes an annual regulatory review, secure and confidential grievance channels and internal measures governing management, mitigation and remedies.
Giant was one of the companies named in a December report by the Labor Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst that alleged that outdoor lifestyle retailer REI has not been vigilant about ensuring the prevention of forced labor in its supply chain (see 2501020035).