US Bans Imports from 37 Additional Chinese Companies Over Uyghur Forced Labor
The United States has imposed import bans on another group of 37 Chinese companies due to alleged human rights violations related to the Uyghurs, Reuters reported. This action, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, targets firms in the textile, mining, and solar sectors. Among those affected is Huafu Fashion Co., one of the largest textile manufacturers globally, along with 25 of its subsidiaries, which have been linked to forced labor practices in China’s cotton industry.
These companies have been added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which prohibits the import of goods associated with what the U.S. characterizes as human rights violations and genocide occurring in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. U.S. officials allege that Chinese authorities have established internment camps for Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang, a claim that Beijing has denied.
Other companies included in the latest ban are Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., which produces solar energy products using polysilicon sourced from Xinjiang, and Hongyuan Green Energy Co., which also obtains polysilicon from the region. Additionally, Zijin Mining Group Co. and three of its subsidiaries, involved in sourcing and extracting zinc, copper, and other metals from Xinjiang, are among those listed. This latest round of additions raises the total number of companies on the list to 144 since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was enacted in December 2021.
