"Serbia Zijin Copper reviews forced labour claims after US import ban", 18 Jun 2026

Serbia Zijin Copper said it is reviewing allegations that it is using forced labour in the manufacture of copper and copper products after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency prohibited their imports.

"Serbia Zijin Copper [...] takes this situation very seriously. The company opposes all forms of forced labour and remains committed to complying with applicable laws, including those of the United States of America, as well as internationally recognised labour and human rights standards related to the prevention of forced labour," it said in a press release late on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, CBP said it had issued the Withhold Release Order against copper and copper products made by Serbia Zijin Copper after reviewing evidence indicating that the company uses forced labour in its production from multiple sources, including worker statements, photographs, focus group field notes, text message screenshots, open-source non-government organisation reports, news media, and academic research.

CBP found that workers at Serbia Zijin Copper are subject to six International Labour Organization indicators of forced labour - abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, and excessive overtime.