- On 16 June 2026, US CBP issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against copper and copper products manufactured by Serbia Zijin Copper D.O.O. (Serbia Zijin), a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned Zijin Mining Group.
- This was the fourth WRO in FY2026 and the second against a Chinese-owned operation in Serbia, following the December 2025 WRO against Linglong International. Both cases were filed by NGO China Labor Watch and follow its 2022 field investigation into Chinese overseas investment projects in Serbia.
- CBP identified six ILO forced labour indicators: abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, and excessive overtime.
- Evidence cited by CBP included worker statements, photographs, focus group field notes, text message screenshots, NGO reports, media reporting and academic research. Focus group field notes and text message screenshots are not usually cited in WROs and were also used in the Linglong WRO, likely reflecting China Labor Watch’s role in both cases.
- Separately, in 2025 UN Special Rapporteurs raised concerns to Serbia Zijin alleging severe environmental contamination and human rights violations including displacement without adequate compensation and cultural rights violations affecting the Vlach minority. These allegations were not related to forced labour.
CBP issues WRO against Chinese state-owned Serbia Zijin Copper
24.06.2026
