CBP Announcement & Training
CBP has announced the upcoming launch of its Forced Labor Portal, along with a series of training webinars for the trade community. Once live, the portal will become the mandatory submission platform for all forced labor–related review requests, including those under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and existing Withhold Release Orders (WROs).
CBP is offering these trainings to walk importers and brokers through:
- Portal navigation and functionality
- Required documentation and evidentiary standards
- Submission workflows for forced labor reviews
The training signals CBP’s expectation of increased volume, stricter documentation, and consistent national enforcement. Please see the dates and times to the trainings in the following link: https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-402e28d?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
What is Forced Labor?
Forced labor occurs when individuals are compelled to work through coercion, threats, restriction of movement, debt bondage, or abuse of vulnerability. Under U.S. law, goods produced wholly or in part with forced labor are prohibited from importation.
Key authorities include:
- Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930
- Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which establishes a rebuttable presumption that goods connected to Xinjiang or certain listed entities are made with forced labor and therefore inadmissible.
Under these laws, the burden of proof rests entirely on the importer.
What is the CBP Forced Labor Portal?
The Forced Labor Portal will serve as CBP’s single, centralized system for submitting forced labor–related review requests, including:
- WRO and Forced Labor Finding admissibility reviews
- UFLPA applicability reviews
- UFLPA exception requests (requiring “clear and convincing evidence”)
- Certain CAATSA exception requests
Once implemented, CBP will no longer accept informal or ad-hoc submissions outside the portal.
What This Matters for Importers
The new portal formalizes CBP’s enforcement process and raises the compliance bar:
- Portal use will be mandatory
- Evidence requirements will be standardized and strictly applied
- Incomplete submissions may lead to extended detentions, exclusions, or seizures
- Forced labor compliance must be addressed before goods ship, not after they are stopped
How Alba Helps: TradeVerifyd
Alba’s TradeVerifyd solution helps importers prepare for CBP’s forced labor enforcement and the new Forced Labor Portal—before shipments are disrupted.
Through TradeVerifyd™, Alba supports clients with:
- Supply chain risk screening for UFLPA and forced-labor exposure
- CBP-ready documentation preparation aligned with portal requirements
- Strategic guidance on UFLPA applicability vs. exception pathways
- Submission support for WRO and UFLPA reviews through the CBP portal
- Ongoing monitoring as suppliers or sourcing change
The goal is to reduce detention risk, shorten review timelines, and ensure defensible compliance in an increasingly strict enforcement environment.
Recommended Next Steps
With CBP’s portal and training now underway, importers should:
- Assess current supply chains for forced labor exposure
- Confirm documentation is complete and readily accessible
- Assign internal ownership for forced labor compliance
- Engage advisors before shipments are detained
CBP’s launch of the Forced Labor Portal—and its related training—marks a more structured and unforgiving enforcement landscape. Importers that prepare early and can clearly demonstrate supply-chain transparency will be best positioned to avoid costly disruptions.
Alba’s Trade Advisory team is ready to help you navigate CBP’s new forced labor requirements with confidence. For any questions, please reach out to tradeservicerequests@albawheelsup.com
- Anticipate Regulatory Changes: Food importers should be aware that the remaining FSMA requirements will likely lead to new FDA guidance and regulations that will impact food safety operations, compliance documentation, and supply chain traceability.
- Stay Proactive on Food Safety: Now is the time to prepare for enhanced hazard analysis, intentional adulteration prevention, and updated good agricultural practices (GAPs) to ensure smooth compliance with future requirements.
- Strengthen Food Traceability: Start evaluating your track-and-trace systems, as improved traceability and recall response will remain key regulatory priorities.
Speak to an Alba expert for support.
Alba’s customs experts are available to help importers evaluate potential impacts on quota availability, entry timing, and duty exposure, contact us.
Reference: CSMS # 67297933 – Forced Labor Portal Training Webinars
