US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has modified the withhold release order (WRO) against India’s Natchi Apparel Private Limited’s garment imports.
In a statement, CBP said that, effective immediately, Natchi Apparel Ltd. shipments will be allowed to enter US commerce, provided the imports are otherwise in compliance with US law.
Notably, shipments that have previously been detained will also be released.
This modification takes place a month after CBP issued the WRO on 29 July 2022, representing swift and successful collaboration between civil society and worker rights organisations, Natchi Apparel and its parent company Eastman Exports, and CBP.
This collaboration plays a critical role in ensuring that imports entering the US are free of forced labour and meet the humane and ethical standards required by US customs and trade laws.
It improves American economic security while upholding human rights for workers.
It is most probably the first time that CBP has taken such a step in just 6 weeks while normally it takes longer time. The company’s official said that they have put its case and documents strongly, as there wasn’t any forced labour at all.
The Indian apparel exporter also got support from a world-renowned labour group and NGO on this matter.
Subhash Tiwari, CEO, Eastman Exports, said that he is grateful that customs officials have recognised the company’s efforts. He said, “We are very proud of the leadership role that Eastman Exports has taken, in partnership with civil society and worker rights organisations, to promote the rights of our workers — particularly our ground-breaking programmes on gender-based violence and harassment.”
