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In
a statement overnight, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
said it has sufficient information to determine labour abuses at
the world's largest medical glove maker.
CBP issued an order in July last year that barred imports from
two of Top Glove's subsidiaries on suspicion of labour abuses.
The ban now extends "to all disposable gloves originating in Top
Glove factories in Malaysia," it told Reuters.
Top Glove shares fell nearly 5% in early morning trade.
Top Glove told Reuters its U.S. counsels are liaising with
representatives from the CBP to obtain more clarity and
information on the matter.
CBP said its finding does not impact the vast majority of
disposable gloves imported into the United States which are
critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"CBP has taken steps to ensure that this targeted enforcement
action against Top Glove will not have a significant impact on
total U.S. imports of disposable gloves," John Leonard, CBP
Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner for Trade said in the
statement.
Top Glove has said in the past months that it has taken
extensive rectification actions to improve its labour practices.
Ethical trade consultancy Impactt, appointed by Top Glove to
assess its trade and labour practices, reported earlier this
month that as at January, it "no longer" found indicators of
systemic forced labour at the manufacturer.
(Reporting by Liz Lee; editing by Richard Pullin)
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