U.S. Bans Imports from Esquel Group Over Uyghur Labor Allegations

The United States announced on Thursday, October 31, import bans on products from Hong Kong-based Esquel Group and several associated firms due to allegations of forced labor involving Uyghur workers, UPI reported yesterday.

The companies, including Guangdong Esquel Textile and Changji Esquel Textile, were added to the Department of Homeland Security’s Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List for allegedly sourcing cotton from China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

The ban takes effect immediately, reflecting the Biden administration’s commitment to eradicating forced labor from U.S. supply chains. Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers emphasized the administration’s resolve to combat forced labor practices. Esquel Group, previously a supplier for Nike, has denied the allegations, asserting that they oppose forced labor and comply with international standards.

The UFLPA, enacted in December 2021, has seen 78 companies added to the entity list amid growing concerns over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where more than a million Uyghurs are believed to have been detained in camps since 2017. China has consistently denied these allegations, claiming the camps serve re-education purposes.

It should be mentioned that the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act prohibits the import of goods made with forced labor from the Xinjiang region, aiming to address human rights abuses.