In a move that has stunned the U.S. bike industry, the U.S. Government has charged Giant Bicycles, the world’s largest manufacturer of bicycles, with forced labor and other illegal labor practices. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that it would begin seizing bicycles manufactured at Giant’s Taiwan headquarters.
This will affect only a portion of Giant’s output. In addition to its factory in Taiwan—a facility that makes, among other things, high-end carbon fiber road bikes—Giant has five factories in China and additional facilities in Vietnam and Europe.
First reported by the New York Times, the C.B.P. has investigated Giant and charged it with a variety of abusive working and living conditions, debt bondage, withheld wages, forced overtime and more.
Shipments will be held through a “withhold release order,” effective immediately. The investigation predates the Trump administration. In January Giant responded to issues raised by C.B.P. by improving employee housing and subsequently moving to cover all recruitment fees for newly hired migrant workers.
Based on the Times‘s reporting, it appears that the “withhold release orders” will apply to all bicycles and parts made at the Taichung, Taiwan, factory. This means that other brands may see shipments delayed or even destroyed. Trek and Scott are the two biggest brands currently known to source bikes from Giant Taiwan.
There will be more to come, we’re sure.