Giant Group (Group) is again responding to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Withhold Release Order (WRO) issued on September 24, 2025. The WRO was issued due to findings from an investigation by the International Labour Organization regarding forced labor indicators at some of Giant’s suppliers’ facilities in Taiwan.
CBP is withholding the release of imports of Giant bikes, bike parts and accessories at all U.S. ports of entry. Giant Group issued an update on October 2, outlining its actions and confirming its commitment to openness and transparency, which have included multiple steps.
As of October 2, the Group reported the latest progress is as follows:
1. Active External Engagement
- On September 29, Giant formally engaged with CBP through its U.S. legal counsel and will arrange an official meeting in the near future.
- On September 30, Giant submitted formal letters to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, and Ministry of Economic Affairs, reporting the progress to date and respectfully requesting assistance.
- In parallel, the Group has been actively communicating with key international partners to safeguard supply chain stability and market confidence.
2. Continued Implementation and Strengthening of Measures
Regarding labor and human rights concerns raised externally, including the adoption of the Zero Recruitment Fee Policy and the improvement of employee housing conditions, Giant continues to monitor and audit their implementation, ensuring that protections are aligned with international standards and institutionalized.
3. Public Commitment Giant Group sincerely appreciates the concern and support from the public regarding this matter
Upholding our principles of openness, transparency, and accountability, we will proactively report progress to regulators, partners, and the public, and ensure that all related issues are properly addressed in accordance with international standards.
Update from BRAIN
Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) reported last week that Belinda Yeh, a Giant PR specialist, reported to them that “U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials never visited its factories or had any direct contact with the company before announcing its action. CBP has never conducted any on-site investigation at Giant Group’s Taiwan manufacturing factory, nor have any of our departments or personnel been contacted by CBP for interviews or inquiries.”
Giant also reportedly told BRAIN that “CBP was not in possession of any Giant shipments at the time of the WRO issuance.”
Implicating Other Brands
In related news, container tracking service company Vizion issued its own report, indicating that other brands and retailers could also be swept up in the CBP investigation.
Vizion reported on its API platform that while action directly targets Giant, “it also raises broader questions about which U.S. companies have relied on Giant’s suppliers and how far this network extends into American trade flows.”
Using Vizion’s TradeView platform, the company said it linked Giant’s DUNS numbers to its listed Taiwanese suppliers and cross-referenced those suppliers against U.S. import data.
“This analysis confirms Giant’s role as an importer and also identifies other consignees sourcing from the same suppliers,” Vizion reported. “The findings provide a clearer picture of the potential ripple effects of CBP’s enforcement action and show how closely Giant’s supply chain is connected to the broader U.S. bicycle and sporting goods market.”
By tracing Giant’s DUNS-linked Taiwanese suppliers across U.S. import records, Vizion said it identified a group of other companies that also sourced from the same suppliers during the period from January 2025 to September 2025. While Giant itself remains a top importer, the list also shows overlap with other well-known bicycle brands, retailers, and distributors:
- Giant Bicycle Inc.
- SRAM, LLC
- Quality Bicycle Products
- Scott USA, Inc
- Santa Cruz Bicycles, LLC
- Hawley Nevada, LLC
- Backcountry.com, LLC
- Ibis Cycles, Inc
Giant Bicycle Canada, Inc. also appears in the data, which suggests Giant’s supplier network extends beyond the U.S. into the Canadian market.
Post–July 1 Activity
When Vizion narrowed its dataset to the period after July 1, 2025, the picture changed considerably. Despite the looming enforcement risks, Vision reported that only three importers brought in shipments from Giant’s Taiwanese suppliers at volumes above 3 TEUs:
- Giant Bicycle Canada Inc (Canada)
- SRAM LLC (U.S.)
- Giant Bicycle Inc (U.S.)
“The remaining activity points to risk now being more concentrated around Giant’s own products and parts, with only limited exposure across the broader U.S. dealer and distributor landscape,” the company suggested.
Shifts in Supplier Networks Since 2020
Looking back to 2020, Vizion reported that the list of major importers tied to Giant Manufacturing looked very different.
“Trek and Scott USA were once significant buyers, but both have since diversified their supplier networks, with a large portion of production now based in Asia,” Vision assessed. “This reflects a broader industry trend toward geographic diversification in response to cost pressures, trade policy risks, and compliance concerns.”
Image courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
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See below for additional SGB Executive coverage of this matter.
EXEC: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Suspends Import of Certain Giant Bike Products
