US blocks Zijin Copper imports over forced labor

US Customs and Border Protection has issued an order to detain imports of copper and copper products from Serbia's Chinese-owned mining company, Zijin Copper, over suspicions the goods were produced using forced labour. The measure, announced June 16, targets one of Serbia's key copper mining and processing facilities and could disrupt its access to American and other markets. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić previously acknowledged the withholding as bad news for Serbia and confirmed ongoing discussions with the United States.