by S BIRRUNTHA/ pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has cleared the world’s largest medical glove, Top Glove Corp Bhd, to

resume exporting and selling its gloves to the country.

In a statement today, the group said that this comes following a modification of the findings done by CBP and the group’s

disposable gloves would be now admissible at all US ports of entry from Sept 10 onwards.

“Top Glove wishes to express its utmost appreciation to the CBP for its responsiveness in modification of the finding. Top Glove

also wishes to thank the Malaysian government and the company’s valued stakeholders for their support and understanding on

this matter.

“Top Glove remains committed to the health, safety and well-being of its people. The company will continue to work hard and

smart towards becoming an industry leader in this area and meeting growing expectations of its stakeholders,” it added.

Previously, the US has banned disposable gloves made by Top Glove since July 2020, after concluding the firm uses forced labour in March 2020.

Top Glove has 60 companies within its group and exports to more than 195 countries.

US CBP had already banned gloves from two of Top Glove’s subsidiaries last year after saying it suspected the company was committing labour abuses.

It went a step further in March this year, announcing it had “sufficient information” to conclude that Top Glove uses forced

labour. The federal agency said it would seize any gloves manufactured by the firm at US ports of entry, according to an AFP report.

“CBP will not tolerate foreign companies’ exploitation of vulnerable workers to sell cheap, unethically made goods to American consumers,” said Troy Miller, a CBP senior official.

The agency said the move would not have a significant impact on US imports of disposable gloves, vital for combatting the devastating US virus outbreak.