The United States imposes import restrictions on three additional Chinese companies with links to forced labor: ICCBizNews

On Tuesday, the United States expanded its import restrictions, continuing its mission to eliminate products tainted by forced labor involving Uyghur minorities from entering the American supply chain.

Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co Ltd, Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co. Ltd, and Xinjiang Zhongtai Group Co. Ltd have now been included in the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, as announced by a government publication. This addition brings the total count of entities on the list to 27.

The decision to designate these three companies stems from their business practices that have entailed the mistreatment of Uyghur minorities and other oppressed communities, as stated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a released statement.

"In our stance, we cannot accept companies that exploit forced labor and violate the basic human rights of individuals for the sake of financial gain," remarked Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in the official statement.

These three companies have been singled out for their collaboration with the Xinjiang government in the recruitment, transportation, harboring, or utilization of forced labor from Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other persecuted groups outside the region, according to the United States.

Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co specializes in the production of yarn and various textile products, as indicated in the statement. Xinjiang Zhongtai Group Co engages in the manufacturing and sale of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other textile, chemical, and construction materials. Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co primarily markets cashmere and wool garments, alongside other items. Notably, all three companies are situated in Xinjiang.

In 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List (UFLPA) was enacted, which prohibits the importation of goods into the United States if they originate from Xinjiang or are produced by companies listed on this entity list. Importers must provide evidence that the goods were not manufactured using forced labor to be exempt from this restriction.

American authorities maintain the belief that Chinese authorities have established labor camps in China's western Xinjiang region, where Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups are subjected to these conditions. Beijing, on the other hand, consistently denies any allegations of such abuses.

Subsequently, the State Department issued an updated business advisory on Tuesday, drawing attention to China's "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, as well as the substantial evidence of widespread forced labor practices in the region."

It emphasized the critical need for businesses to conduct thorough due diligence, which involves the identification, assessment, and proactive addressing of risks related to forced labor and human rights violations affecting workers.

Some Uyghur advocacy groups and activists have expressed dissatisfaction with the speed and effectiveness of the enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Senator Marco Rubio, one of the law's co-sponsors, called upon the Biden administration to include more companies on the list.

Rubio remarked in a statement, "There are potentially thousands of China-based companies and entities complicit in slave labor. The sluggish pace only emboldens those who profit from exploiting forced labor."

In August, the United States implemented a ban on goods originating from two Chinese companies that had been newly added to the entity list.