Arent Fox Launches Forced Labor Team and Information Page
AF Helps Companies Assess Supply Chains and Take Action to Address Forced Labor Risks
US Customs and Border Protection has made forced labor a top priority and recent actions will impact the supply chain of many US importers.
In January 2021, CBP blocked all imports of cotton from China’s western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), which supplies 20% of the world’s products. Going forward, CBP will detain shipments containing XUAR cotton and cotton products, even if the final product was not produced in the region, or even in China. To secure the release of products, companies must have forced labor policies and full documentation for the entire supply chain in place.
This is just one example of the US Government’s increased focus on forced labor. CBP maintains a list of goods banned from importation due to forced labor, and we anticipate many more in the coming months. In response, Arent Fox has launched a Forced Labor team to help clients navigate the forced labor restrictions, assess their supply chains, and take action to address forced labor risks.
How We Help
- Forced Labor Law Compliance (US Customs and Border Protection Withhold Release Orders and Findings)
- Protests and Petitions for Release of Detained or Seized Merchandise
- Forced Labor Codes of Conduct, Compliance Programs, Trainings, and Manuals
- Supplier Forced Labor Agreements and Documentation
- Supply Chain Evaluations
- Customs Questionnaires and Forced Labor Audits
- Protest, Forfeiture, and Customs Penalty Cases
Learn More About Our Capabilities
Our Team
Arent Fox is a destination firm for businesses navigating supply chain regulations. Our Forced Labor team is led by Angela M. Santos, who focuses on helping companies implement import compliance and forced labor procedures, secure the release of goods detained by CBP, and identify duty savings and recovery avenues.
Smart In Your World
Arent Fox is a destination firm for businesses navigating supply chain regulations. Our Forced Labor team helps companies assess their supply chains and take action to address forced labor risks.
