CBP detention of Chinese fishing vessel Zhen Fa 7’s seafood shipments uncovers shocking evidence of crew member’s death from severe abuse and malnutrition, highlighting China’s persistent use of forced labor in global supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a withhold release order targeting seafood from the Chinese fishing vessel Zhen Fa 7 due to evidence of forced labor practices.
- A crew member named Daniel Aritonang died from abuse and malnutrition-related disease, highlighting the severe human rights violations occurring on the vessel.
- The detention order resulted from a four-year investigation by The Outlaw Ocean Project, which documented crimes including human trafficking and illegal fishing.
- CBP currently enforces 52 withhold release orders, with 36 specifically targeting Chinese entities, demonstrating China’s systemic labor violations.
- This enforcement action aligns with President Trump’s directive to restore American seafood competitiveness by combating unfair trade practices.
CBP Targets Chinese Fishing Vessel for Forced Labor Violations
On May 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a withhold release order targeting all seafood harvested by the Chinese-flagged fishing vessel Zhen Fa 7. The order represents the latest effort to crack down on China’s widespread use of forced labor in its fishing industry, which undermines American businesses while subjecting vulnerable workers to inhumane conditions. Under the directive, CBP officers at all U.S. ports will detain shipments of seafood, primarily squid, harvested by the vessel based on substantial evidence of labor abuses that violate U.S. import laws, including the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
“Effective immediately, CBP officers at all U.S. ports of entry will detain seafood, including but not limited to squid, harvested by Zhen Fa 7 based on reasonable suspicion that the vessel uses forced labor to harvest such seafood,” According to the CBP
The detention order follows a comprehensive four-year investigation by the Outlaw Ocean Project, which documented extensive human rights abuses aboard the Chinese squid ship. Most disturbing was the death of crew member Daniel Aritonang, who perished from abuse and malnutrition-related disease, highlighting the life-threatening conditions faced by workers. The investigation’s findings were formalized into a petition with assistance from the Human Trafficking Legal Center, triggering CBP’s enforcement action. This case exemplifies how China’s fishing fleet exploits workers to produce goods below market value, undercutting American businesses and reaping unjust profits.
China’s Systematic Forced Labor Problem
The action against Zhen Fa 7 represents just one element of a much larger pattern of labor abuses tied to Chinese entities. CBP currently maintains 52 active withhold release orders, with a staggering 36 specifically targeting China-linked operations. This disproportionate focus on Chinese imports reflects the communist regime’s systematic exploitation of workers across multiple industries, from fishing vessels to the cotton fields and mining operations of Xinjiang. The United Nations has documented “serious human rights violations” in the Xinjiang region, where ethnic minorities, particularly Uyghurs, are subjected to forced labor in government-run programs.
“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,” Said Commissioner Pete Flores
Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act alone, CBP has denied entry to 9,436 shipments, with only 5,700 released after thorough review. These detained shipments span various categories including electronics, apparel, and agriculture, demonstrating how forced labor permeates China’s manufacturing ecosystem. Many products originate from Southeast Asian countries but contain components sourced from China, creating a complex web of supply chain connections that American importers must carefully navigate to avoid complicity in human rights abuses.
Broader Implications for American Businesses
The crackdown on products linked to forced labor has significant implications for American businesses importing goods from overseas. CBP now advises all importers to thoroughly check their supply chains for any connections to Xinjiang or other high-risk regions in China, and to maintain comprehensive documentation of their due diligence efforts. Companies caught importing goods produced with forced labor face not only financial losses from detained shipments but also potential reputational damage and consumer backlash.
The enforcement action against Zhen Fa 7 is part of a broader campaign that has already resulted in major companies like Sysco and Costco being pressured to improve their supply chain monitoring. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has blocked imports from a major Chinese seafood company implicated in labor abuses. While importers of detained shipments may attempt to demonstrate admissibility or choose to destroy or export the goods, the financial burden of these options serves as a powerful deterrent against lax supply chain oversight and reinforces President Trump’s commitment to fair trade practices that protect American workers and businesses.
