US issues withhold release order on Supermax gloves

Washington – The US has placed a ‘withhold release order’ on disposable gloves produced by Malaysian manufacturer Supermax Corp. and its subsidiaries for alleged forced labour.

Effective 21 Oct, the order was issued by the customs and border protection (CBP) agency and was based on “information that reasonably indicates their use of forced labour in manufacturing operations.”

In a 20 Oct statement, CBP said it identified 10 out of the 11 International Labour Organisation’s indicators of forced labour during its investigations.

“CBP has ample evidence to conclude that Supermax Corporation Bhd. and its subsidiaries produce gloves in violation of US trade law,” said CBP office of trade executive assistant commissioner AnnMarie R. Highsmith. 

The ban on Supermax gloves follows a year-long detention order on products manufactured by another Malaysian producer Top Glove.

In September, Top Glove was allowed to resume its gloves exports to the US after carrying out a series of measures to address forced labour issued.