On 24 September 2025, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said that it will detain bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories made by Giant Manufacturing in Taiwan, due to information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor. US legislation (unlike that of the EU) allows authorities to stop imports at the border if forced labour is suspected. The import ban is the result of an investigation by CBP that identified five forced labor indicators: debt bondage, withholding of wages, excessive overtime, abusive working and living conditions and abuse of vulnerability…

Giant has said that it will contact CBP ‘to seek revocation of the import ban and explain that the company has already adopted appropriate measures’…

Merida Bicycles, the world’s second biggest bike maker, said in late September that it will adopt a zero-fee recruitment policy by 1 October 2025…

Migrants pay high fees for jobs elsewhere in Taiwan’s bicycle industry according to workers, including at Maxxis and Fox Factory…

At Fox Factory, the practice has been going on for years despite its policies prohibit recruitment fees. ‘We recognise that additional due diligence may be needed, when migrant labor populations are involved’, the company said…