Official Belgrade has expressed concern after the United States' decision to ban imports of copper and copper products manufactured in Serbia by the Chinese company Zijin Copper. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it has frozen the shipments, following suspicions of the use of forced labor in the production process at the copper mines in Bor, in eastern Serbia, where the company operates.

According to US authorities, the investigations conducted are based on worker testimonies, photographic and video materials, as well as reports from non-governmental organizations and academic studies. They allege that workers at Zijin Serbia were exposed to several indicators of forced labor, including movement restrictions, wage withholding, long working hours, and pressure and threats.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has described the decision as harmful to the Serbian economy, stating that the government will support the company to cope with the consequences on exports.

"It is clear that in a geopolitical conflict between great powers, the US and China, we are also paying the price," Vučić said, suggesting that the decision also has a geopolitical background.

For its part, the Chinese company Zijin Copper has denied the allegations, stating that it respects applicable laws and international labor and human rights standards. This is not the first time that a Chinese company operating in Serbia has faced similar measures from the US. Earlier, US authorities have also banned the import of products of another Chinese company to Serbia, on the same basis of forced labor allegations.