THE United States has slapped Malaysian glove maker Top Glove with a detention order, which is usually issued to prevent the importation of goods suspected of having been produced by forced labour, Reuters reported today.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website showed Top Glove Sdn Bhd and TG Medical Sdn Bhd, both subsidiaries of Top Glove Corp Bhd, on the list of companies whose products are barred.

CBP did not explain why the two companies are on the list. Reuters was unable to reach the CBP for comment while Top Glove did not respond to its request for comment.

Top Glove is the world’s biggest producer of gloves.

The United States in October blocked the import of gloves made by another Malaysian manufacturer, WRP Asia Pacific, alleging that the company was engaged in forced labour practices.

The company subsequently suspended operations in January, citing financial difficulties.

Faced with an acute shortage of protective medical equipment in March, at the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, the CBP ended the ban, saying “it was revoked based on recent information… showing the company is no longer producing the rubber gloves under forced labour conditions”.

Malaysia is the glove capital of the world, producing three of every five pairs of gloves used. – July 16, 2020.