US Expands Forced Labour Import Restrictions on Chinese Goods

US Expands Forced Labour Import Restrictions on Chinese Goods
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The United States has intensified its crackdown on imports linked to forced labour in China by adding five new products to the “high-priority sectors” under the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA), The News Mill reported. The newly designated products include steel, copper, lithium, caustic soda, and red dates, all scrutinized for potential connections to forced labour involving the Uyghur ethnic minority in China’s Xinjiang region.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the move strengthens US economic and national security by restricting Chinese goods produced with forced labour from entering American supply chains. Secretary of DHS, Kristi Noem, described the action as a moral, economic, and national security obligation to eliminate unfair trade practices and hold Chinese companies accountable for forced labour abuses.

Currently, 144 entities are listed on the UFLPA Entity List for alleged ties to forced labour, including companies accused of directly using, facilitating, or benefiting from such practices. The UFLPA, enacted on December 23, 2021, and enforced from June 21, 2022, presumes that goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or partly in Xinjiang or by listed entities are subject to import restrictions, unless proven otherwise.