US blocks Chinese fleet for mistreating fisherman

The U.S. government blocked imports of seafood on Friday from the entire fleet of a Chinese company. The announcement Friday marks the first time that the U.S. has sought to block imports from a company's entire fishing fleet, a sign that the CBP's investigation found evidence of widespread abuse on Dalian vessels around the world. Customs and Border Protection said it will place an immediate hold on any imports linked to the more than 30 vessels operated by Dalian Ocean Fishing, under a U.S. law that bars goods suspected to have been produced with forced labor. CBP found that Dalian's operations met all 11 criteria for forced labor laid out by the International Labor Organization, including the holding back of wages, inhumane conditions and physical intimidation, said John Leonard, the acting executive assistant commissioner of the agency's Office of Trade.