“The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will allow Smart Glove’s shipments to enter US commerce, provided the imports are otherwise in compliance with US laws,” said a statement on the CBP website.

“Shipments of Smart Glove’s synthetic gloves received on or after April 26, 2023 will no longer be detained at US ports of entry.”

CBP said the move applies to companies in the Smart Glove group – Smart Glove Corporation Sdn Bhd, GX Corporation Sdn Bhd, GX3 Specialty Plant, Sigma Glove Industries, and Platinum Glove Industries Sdn Bhd.

In November 2021, Reuters reported that CBP had issued a “withhold release order (WRO)” to prohibit the imports of products from Smart Glove and its group of companies.

It cited “reasonable” evidence that pointed to the utilisation of forced labour in the firm’s production facilities.

The CBP said it identified seven of the 11 forced labour indicators set out by the International Labour Organization in Smart Glove’s production process, although it did not state the specific indicators.

In the CBP statement, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the WRO against Smart Glove proved that its enforcement efforts were driving responsible corporate citizenship and significant changes in corporate behaviour.

“The Department of Homeland Security’s relentless enforcement efforts to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering the United States are changing companies’ behaviour, resulting in the elimination of forced labour from supply chains,” said Mayorkas.

There are currently three other Malaysian companies on the CBP’s WRO list.

Apart from products by glove manufacturers Supermax and Brightway and their subsidiaries, palm oil and palm oil products made by FGV Holdings Berhad are also not allowed into the US.