BICYCLE WRO Development Tracker

The Tracker monitors developments in Taiwan’s bicycle industry following the US import ban on Taiwan-made products by Giant Manufacturing due to forced labor concerns. Please refer to my Le Monde diplomatique trilogy (June 2024 - October 2025) and Speed Up report (March 2025) for contextual information.

  • September 24, 2025: US bans import from Giant Manufacturing in Taiwan.

  • September 24, 2025: Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs issues a press release about the US import ban on Giant.

  • October 1, 2025: Merida Bicycles adopts a zero-fee recruitment policy and commits to reimburse migrant employees' recruitment costs.

  • October 3, 2025: Taiwan’s Control Yuan - a governmental watchdog or public ombudsman that investigates government failures and rights abuses - says it will launch an investigation. 

  • October 9, 2025: Taiwan’s Minister of Labor and members of the Legislative Yuan - Taiwan’s parliament - discuss migrant worker recruitment, including overseas recruitment centers, at a parliament committee meeting.

  • October 15, 2025: Giant commits to reimbursing migrant employees’ recruitment costs and transfers the first tranche. Migrant workers confirm receipt: Vietnamese receive 50,000 NTD ($1,625), and Thai receive 30,000 NTD ($975).

  • October 15, 2025: Giant says that relocation of 400 workers to new dorms is completed. Migrant workers confirm the move and share photos of their previous dormitories with up to 32 beds per room.

  • October 17, 2025: Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA) launches an industry-wide Supply Chain Due Diligence Initiative focused on human rights. TBA subsidizes the first batch of 50 member companies to undergo due diligence.

  • October 25, 2025: Merida completes its reimbursements process in one transfer. Currently employed migrant workers are reimbursed. Former migrant employees who have left the company since July 15 are reimbursed too. Migrant workers confirm receipt of reimbursements.

  • October end, 2025: Giant meets with US CBP officials in Washington DC to discuss the import ban.

  • October end, 2025: An estimated $2-2.25 million is compensated by Merida and Giant to migrant workers in October.

  • November start, 2025: The WRO petition on Merida is no longer active at the US CBP.

  • November 1, 2025: Maxxis (Cheng Shin Rubber), the world’s largest bicycle tire manufacturer, adopts a zero-fee recruitment policy and commits to reimbursing migrant employees' recruitment costs in three phases, to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.

  • November 6, 2025: Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA) signs a memorandum of understanding with WRAP, a certification standard, and convenes member companies for a briefing on due diligence, auditing procedures and TBA’s subsidy program.