President Donald Trump issued an executive order on May 15 that establishes a task force focused on forced labor issues under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “The Task Force shall be chaired by the Secretary of Homeland Security and shall be composed of representatives from the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative,” it said. “The Chair may invite representatives from other executive departments or agencies, as appropriate, to participate as members or observers.” House Democrats recently complained that the task forced hadn't been created by the required April 28 deadline (see 2005120035).
The Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee have told the leaders of CBP and the Department of Homeland Security that the failure to establish the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force by the April 28 deadline in statute is unacceptable.
CBP issued a withhold release order for “imported merchandise made wholly or in part with seafood harvested by the Yu Long No. 2, a Taiwanese flagged fishing vessel, at all U.S. ports of entry” CBP said in a news release. The WRO was issued due to suspicions of forced labor use and is effective as of May 11, CBP said. This WRO is the second order issued this month (see 2005010040).
New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, who voted against the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, issued a statement complaining that the administration has not yet named the members of the forced labor enforcement task force, which was supposed to be formed by 90 days after the implementing bill's passage. The task force is meant to discuss active Withhold and Release Orders, investigations that could lead to WROs, petitions for investigations and forced labor enforcement priorities.
CBP issued a withhold release order for imported hair products “manufactured by Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co. Ltd. (Haolin), who operate in the Xinjiang region of China,” CBP said in a news release. The WRO was issued due to suspicions of forced labor use and is effective as of May 1, CBP said. The use of forced labor in the Xinjiang region has gotten new attention from lawmakers in recent months (see 2003180037).
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP should develop a new electronic platform incorporating its e-recordation system to improve intellectual property rights enforcement through better targeting and communication, the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee said in recommendations adopted at the April 15 COAC meeting.
CBP posted multiple documents ahead of the April 15 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting:
CBP should update its regulations on prior disclosures to clarify the requirements and benefits of prior disclosures of forced labor violations, the Commercial Customs Operation Advisory Committee said in recommendations adopted at the April 15 COAC meeting. Regulations on forced labor should also be amended, and guidance documents issued, to clarify what should be included in a forced labor allegation, as well as how CBP should inquire about potential violations and how importers should respond, the COAC said.
CBP revoked a withhold release order on imports of tuna harvested from the Tunago No. 61 vessel, CBP said in a news release. “This decision was based on information obtained by CBP that tuna and tuna products from this vessel are no longer produced under forced labor conditions,” CBP said. The agency issued the WRO in 2019 (see 1902040017). This the second WRO revocation in recent weeks (see 2003250020).