On April 2, 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a press release announcing that it had issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) for imports of sea salt products from Taepyung Salt Farm, a South Korean company, “based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor.” The WRO is effective immediately and CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain sea salt products sourced from Taepyung Salt Farm.
The CBP’s press release notes that, during the course of the investigation, the agency identified the following International Labour Organization forced labor indicators: abuse of vulnerability, deception, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, abusive living and working conditions, intimidation and threats, physical violence, debt bondage, withholding of wages, and excessive overtime.
With the issuance of this WRO, CBP currently oversees and enforces 52 WROs and nine Findings.