U.S. blocks import of Linglong Tires over forced Labor concerns

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a Withhold Release Order preventing certain automobile tires manufactured by Linglong International Europe D.O.O. Zrenjanin from entering the United States. The order took effect on December 18, 2025, and applies at all U.S. ports of entry.

Under the order, CBP officers are required to detain shipments of covered tires unless importers can demonstrate that the goods were not produced using forced labor. The action was taken under U.S. law that prohibits the importation of merchandise made wholly or in part through forced labor.

CBP said its investigation found evidence indicating that forced labor may have been used in the production process at the company’s Serbian facility. The agency reviewed worker testimony, employment contracts, photographs, text messages, and reports from non-governmental organizations and other open-source materials. According to CBP, the evidence pointed to multiple indicators of forced labor, including coercion, intimidation, withholding of wages, excessive overtime, abusive working conditions, and restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement.

CBP officials said the order reflects the agency’s commitment to protecting human rights and ensuring that American businesses are not undercut by products made through exploitation. The agency has increasingly relied on Withhold Release Orders as part of broader enforcement efforts aimed at addressing forced labor in global supply chains.

Linglong International Europe has rejected the allegations, calling the U.S. decision unjustified. The company said the claims are based on outdated information involving subcontractors rather than its current operations. Linglong stated that it terminated relationships with those subcontractors and implemented stronger labor compliance measures in recent years.

The tire manufacturing plant in Zrenjanin has faced scrutiny in the past following reports of labor abuses involving migrant workers. Previous allegations included poor living conditions and violations of labor rights, prompting some international buyers to distance themselves from the facility.

As a result of the Withhold Release Order, affected shipments will remain detained unless importers can provide proof of compliance with U.S. labor laws. Importers may also choose to export or destroy the goods. The order will remain in effect until CBP determines that the conditions leading to the enforcement action have been resolved.

The move adds to a growing list of trade enforcement actions by CBP aimed at preventing products made with forced labor from entering the U.S. market, underscoring the agency’s intensified focus on labor standards and supply chain accountability.