Giant Brand Bikes Made in Taiwan Barred by Trump Administration

American customs officials said on Wednesday that the United States would begin barring imports of bicycles manufactured in Taiwan by Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., saying that they had uncovered information indicating that the company was using forced labor.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that it would begin detaining bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories manufactured in Taiwan by Giant effective immediately under what is known as a “withhold release order.”

Giant is the world’s largest bike manufacturer, and its products can be found both in large stores and smaller, independent bike shops. The company has one factory in Taiwan and five in China. It also makes bikes in Europe and Vietnam.

Customs said it was taking action in the wake of an investigation into Giant, which found abusive working and living conditions, debt bondage, withholding of wages, excessive overtime and other indicators of forced labor.

The government said that those factors had allowed the company to price its products for less than what American bicycle producers charge, resulting in “millions of dollars in unjustly earned profits.”

Giant is “committed to upholding human rights and labor protections,” the company said in a statement.

It had already taken action to address the issues raised by C.B.P., including improving employee housing and, since January, covering in full all recruitment fees for newly hired migrant workers, the statement said.

The order only applies to products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the United States, the company said. It added that while some shipments to the United States may be delayed, supply and sales in other markets would not be unaffected.

The United States has been the largest buyer of Taiwan-made bikes for a decade, according to the Taiwan Bicycle Association, an industry group. Trade data shows that 40 percent of the bikes imported to the United States in 2023 came from Taiwan.