The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 29 Chinese companies to a growing list of entities banned from importing goods into the United States. The sanctions, announced on Nov. 22, are part of an ongoing effort to combat forced labor tied to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which took effect in 2022. The blacklist now includes 107 companies from various industries.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized that forced labor violates fundamental human rights. He stated that the United States is committed to economic fairness and holding violators accountable. This latest enforcement action is part of a broader push to ensure American consumers are not unknowingly supporting forced labor practices.
NEW: Today, DHS, on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), announced the addition of 29 companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List – bringing the total number of entities on the UFLPA… pic.twitter.com/NPlRnA3Kdb
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 22, 2024
The sanctions target firms across multiple sectors. A significant portion of the newly banned companies is involved in agriculture, producing items like tomato paste and dried fruits. Others operate in the mining and metals industries, supplying materials such as aluminum and chromium. These resources have been linked to products used in battery production.
Two state-owned enterprises, Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Industry Group and Xinjiang Zhonghe Co., were flagged for their role in forced labor supply chains. These firms are connected to larger battery manufacturers under scrutiny by US lawmakers. Legislators have urged the Biden administration to reduce reliance on Chinese goods in critical sectors like renewable energy.
US Blacklists 29 Chinese Companies Over Forced Laborhttps://t.co/4jpLZS4TRm
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) November 24, 2024
The U.S. has finally added Xinjiang Nonferrous and other known offenders to its list of forced labor companies in China. @ChuBailiang and I broke the story two years ago on the company’s participation in labor transfers the U.S. defines as forced labor https://t.co/E6GSOQcemd
— Ana Swanson (@AnaSwanson) November 24, 2024
Critics of the current enforcement measures argue that loopholes in customs laws still allow some forced labor products into the country. Imports valued under $800 often bypass inspection, fueling calls for stricter policies. Proposals to close these gaps are gaining traction in Congress as bipartisan efforts continue to address the issue.
International pressure on China has also intensified. The European Union recently passed resolutions aimed at banning products tied to forced labor, aligning with US efforts to hold violators accountable. The global response underscores growing condemnation of forced labor practices linked to the Chinese government.
