A Chinese fishing vessel caught using brutal forced labor has had its seafood shipments blocked by the U.S. Customs after an investigation revealed the death of a crew member from abuse and malnutrition aboard the notorious Zhen Fa 7.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a withhold release order blocking seafood imports from the Chinese vessel Zhen Fa 7 due to forced labor allegations
- The action stems from a 4-year investigation that documented severe abuse, including the death of crew member Daniel Aritonang from maltreatment
- This is part of a larger crackdown on Chinese forced labor practices, with CBP currently enforcing 52 withhold release orders, 36 of which target China-linked entities
- The Tariff Act of 1930 and Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act provide legal framework for stopping imports produced through exploitation
- American companies including Sysco and Costco are facing pressure to ensure their supply chains are free from forced labor products
CBP Cracks Down on Chinese Vessel’s Forced Labor Practices
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has intensified its fight against forced labor by targeting seafood shipments from the Chinese-flagged fishing vessel Zhen Fa 7. Effective May 28, CBP issued a withhold release order (WRO) that instructed all U.S. ports to detain seafood, including squid, harvested by the vessel. The action follows substantial evidence of severe labor abuses aboard the ship, where workers were subjected to inhumane conditions that ultimately resulted in a crew member’s death. This latest enforcement measure adds to the growing list of actions against Chinese entities exploiting workers for profit while undercutting American businesses.
“Combatting forced labor is central to CBP’s mission to protect the economic security of the United States,” CBP acting Commissioner Pete Flores said in a statement. “The President recently charged us to restore American seafood competitiveness by combatting unfair trade practices, and issuing this order is one way we are contributing to that goal,” Stated Commissioner Pete Flores
Deadly Conditions Revealed Through Extensive Investigation
The withhold release order follows a four-year investigation by the Outlaw Ocean Project that uncovered shocking human rights violations aboard the Chinese squid ship. Most disturbing was the death of Indonesian crew member Daniel Aritonang, who succumbed to abuse and malnutrition-related illness while working on the vessel. Investigators documented systematic exploitation of workers through tactics including physical abuse, withholding of wages, excessive working hours, and dangerous living conditions. The Human Trafficking Legal Center helped formalize these findings into a petition that prompted official government action.
“As a result of these forced labor abuses, Zhen Fa 7 benefitted from lower labor costs, produced goods below market value, undercut American businesses, and unjustly earned profits,” According to the CBP
The investigation’s findings were widely publicized across 241 news outlets in 43 countries, drawing attention to the global scope of forced labor in fishing fleets. These revelations have spurred not only the CBP action but have also caught the attention of Congress and the White House. Additional petitions are pending for import restrictions on another Chinese vessel and sanctions against companies profiting from forced labor. The Department of Homeland Security has already moved to block imports from a major Chinese seafood company implicated in similar abuses.
China’s Forced Labor Problem Grows More Visible
The Zhen Fa 7 case is just one example of China’s widespread forced labor practices that have drawn increasing international scrutiny. Currently, CBP is enforcing 52 withhold release orders, with a staggering 36 of them related to Chinese entities. This follows the United Nations’ identification of “serious human rights violations” in China’s Xinjiang region, where systemic forced labor has been documented in cotton production and mining operations. Despite international pressure, China has denied access to UN investigators, preventing independent verification of conditions.
“CBP states that this action brings to 52 the number of WROs the agency is enforcing, along with nine findings, under 19 USC 1307, which prohibits imports of goods made wholly or in part with forced labor, including convict labor,” Stated Pete Flores
Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), U.S. authorities have already denied entry to 9,436 shipments, with only 5,700 released after thorough review. Many of these shipments appear to originate from Southeast Asian countries but contain Chinese-sourced materials – a common tactic used to circumvent U.S. import restrictions. The breadth of affected products is vast, including electronics, apparel, agricultural products, and seafood, demonstrating how deeply forced labor has infiltrated global supply chains.
American Businesses Face Supply Chain Scrutiny
As the crackdown on forced labor intensifies, American importers and retailers are facing increased pressure to ensure their supply chains are free from exploitation. Major companies like Sysco and Costco have been specifically targeted by advocacy groups to improve their verification processes. CBP advises all importers to carefully examine their supply chains for any connections to regions or entities known for forced labor, particularly Xinjiang. Companies must maintain comprehensive documentation demonstrating due diligence in preventing forced labor from tainting their products.
The Trump administration’s firm stance against Chinese forced labor represents a critical defense of both human rights and American economic interests. By preventing unfairly produced goods from entering U.S. markets, these actions help level the playing field for American businesses that comply with labor standards while simultaneously combating international human rights abuses. As investigations continue and enforcement actions expand, importers must prioritize supply chain transparency or risk significant business disruptions when their shipments are detained at the border.
