Washington, DC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske has directed the issuance of a withhold release order against imported potassium, potassium hydroxide, and potassium nitrate manufactured or mined by Tangshan Sunfar Silicon Company, a.k.a. Tangshan SunFar Silicon Industries Co. Ltd. in the People’s Republic of China.  The order will require detention at all U.S. ports of entry of any such merchandise manufactured by this company.

The withhold release order is based on information obtained by CBP indicating that the Tangshan Sunfar Silicon Company utilizes convict labor in the production of the merchandise.

Under 19 U.S.C. § 1307, it is illegal to import into the United States goods made, in whole or in part, by forced labor, including child labor, indentured labor, and convict labor. CBP issues withhold release orders when there is information available that reasonably indicates merchandise in violation of this statute is, or is likely to be, imported into the United States.

This is the second withhold release order issued by CBP since the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 was signed by the President on February 24, 2016.

Additional information, including how to submit information to CBP, may be found at www.cbp.gov/trade/trade-community/programs-outreach/convict-importations.