American copper embargo produced in Serbia by Chinese company, forced labour denounced

"It is obvious that in a geopolitical conflict in which everyone is against everyone, but they stand out two major countries, the US and China, we pay the price too," Aleksandar Vucic commented

The US decision to ban imports of copper produced in Serbia by a Chinese company is causing Belgrade trouble.

The US Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) announced that it issued a mandate to commit copper and copper products shipments prepared in Serbia by Chinese company Zijin Copper due to serious hints for using forced labour in production. This company operates Bor's mines in eastern Serbia.

The CBP Communication states that investigations carried out and including employee testimonies, photographs, videos, academic studies and NGO reports showed that "workers in Zijin Serbia were exposed to six indicators of forced labour, according to the International Labour Organisation." The CBP notes that "abuse of vulnerability, withholding wages, intimidation and threats, traffic limitation, withholding personal documents and excessive overtime was found".

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described the US customs decision as "bad for Serbia" and announced that the government would help the Chinese company overcome the problems caused by copper exports. Vucic said Zijin Serbia employs in Bor's mines 7,000 workers and estimated that incentives for the US decision have a geopolitical character.

"It is obvious that in a geopolitical conflict in which everyone is against everyone, but two large countries stand out, the US and China, we pay the price," Aleksandar Vucic commented.

The Chinese company rejected the charges by announcing that it "continues committed to complying with applicable legislation, including US laws, as well as internationally recognised labour and human rights standards related to the prevention of forced labour".

It is not the first Chinese company in Serbia to be accused of forced labour and put into embargo by the US. In December 2025 the US Customs and Border Protection Agency for the same reason banned the import of tyres produced in Serbia by the Chinese company Linglong.