US bans imports of seafood from a Chinese fishing fleet over forced labor allegations

Earlier this week, the United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, drew attention to the issue of forced labor on fishing vessels, presenting a new proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to curb subsidies to the illegal fishing and demand that member countries recognize the problem. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has imposed a new ban on the import of seafood from a Chinese fishing fleet that the agency says uses forced labor on its 32 vessels, including abuses against many Indonesian workers. CBP said it will stop the entry of tuna, swordfish and other sea food from Dalian Ocean Fishing Co Ltd into US ports. The order, which bans imports as well, applies to other goods like canned tuna and pet food, a CBP official said. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, stated that the measure marks the first time that CBP has prohibited imports of an entire fishing fleet, as opposed to individual vessels as in the past. "DHS (Department ...