U.S. Expands Import Ban on Chinese Companies Over Forced Labor Concerns

The United States announced on Friday that it is expanding its import restrictions to include dozens more China-based companies across various industries, including metals and food, due to ongoing concerns about forced labor practices.

This latest action adds approximately 30 entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list, meaning that goods either wholly or partially produced by these firms will be barred from entering the U.S. market.

With this update, the total number of companies on the list has risen to 107, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office stated that these companies have been linked to sourcing materials from the Xinjiang region or collaborating with local authorities to recruit and transfer workers, including Uyghurs, from Xinjiang.

Allegations against Beijing assert that over one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are detained in a network of facilities in Xinjiang, although Chinese officials continue to vehemently deny these claims.

The newly identified companies produce a wide range of goods, from agricultural products to aluminum and polysilicon materials. They are also involved in mining and processing metals such as copper, gold, and nickel. Notably, some of the targeted firms have connections to Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturer CATL and Gotion, which were highlighted by a bipartisan U.S. congressional committee earlier this week.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party expressed concern over the ties of CATL and Gotion to two businesses, Xinjiang Nonferrous and Xinjiang Joinworld, both of which have now been included in the updated restrictions.

Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, along with other lawmakers, stated, “While we are pleased with this initial step, we remain concerned that CATL and Gotion’s supply chains are deeply tied to the Xinjiang region.”

The new rules will take effect on November 25. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai emphasized the commitment to enforcing laws against forced labor, asserting that “companies should not secure unfair advantages by exploiting workers.” She reiterated the administration’s dedication to preventing companies that violate workers’ rights from benefiting from access to the U.S. market. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was enacted in 2021 in response to these pressing human rights concerns.