The United States has taken action to eliminate goods made with forced labor of Uyghur minorities from entering the country. On Thursday, imports from 26 Chinese cotton traders or warehouse facilities were barred as part of this effort. These companies have been added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts the import of goods tied to what the US government characterizes as an ongoing genocide of minorities in China’s Xinjiang region. US officials believe that Chinese authorities have set up labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, a claim that Beijing denies.
While many of the cotton companies listed are based outside of Xinjiang, they source their cotton from the region, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. The designations aim to help responsible companies to conduct due diligence to avoid products made with forced labor from entering the country. Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, emphasized the importance of keeping such products out of the US. However, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the move, claiming that the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is an attempt by a few US politicians to disrupt stability in Xinjiang and contain China’s development.
Since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List law was passed in 2021, Washington has restricted imports from a total of 65 entities, with the latest 26 additions. Representatives Chris Smith and Senator Jeff Merkley, chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, expressed their support for the recent action by the Department of Homeland Security. They called for further action to blacklist Chinese companies in industries such as polysilicon, aluminum, PVC, and rayon, as well as companies in other parts of Asia that produce goods for the US market with inputs sourced from Xinjiang. The current list is seen as a fraction of businesses believed to be complicit in forced labor.
The bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China wants the US government to take further steps to restrict imports of goods made with forced labor from entering the country. They are urging the Department of Homeland Security to blacklist more companies, particularly those in industries like polysilicon, aluminum, PVC, and rayon, as well as those in other parts of Asia that use inputs from Xinjiang in their production processes. This is seen as a necessary step to prevent products associated with forced labor from reaching the US market. The move to nearly double the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List is seen as a positive step, but more action is still needed to tackle the issue comprehensively.
The actions taken by the US government to target Chinese companies involved in forced labor practices are part of a broader effort to address human rights violations in China, particularly against Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang. The US government’s commitment to ensuring that goods made with forced labor do not enter the US market is reflected in the measures taken to restrict imports from specific companies and facilities. By targeting entities that are believed to be complicit in these practices, the US aims to prevent products associated with forced labor from being sold in the country. The bipartisan support for these actions highlights the importance of addressing human rights abuses and ensuring that responsible business practices are upheld in global supply chains.
