The Department of Homeland Security in the US has officially announced a ban on the import of goods from a Chinese steel manufacturer and a Chinese artificial sweetener maker amidst allegations of forced labour practices in China’s Xinjiang region. This move comes as part of the US government’s efforts to prevent products linked to human rights abuses from entering the country.
The Department of Homeland Security declared that these entities have been added to the entity list under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, making it the first time a China-based steel company and aspartame sweetener business have been targeted by US law enforcement. Undersecretary of Homeland Security for policy, Robert Silvers, stated, “Today’s actions reaffirm our commitment to eliminating forced labor from US supply chains and upholding our values of human rights for all.” He emphasised that no sector will be exempt from scrutiny, and entities across various industries will be held accountable for exploiting and abusing human rights.
The legislation signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 follows accusations of human rights violations by Beijing against the Uyghur group and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, which China vehemently denies. This signifies a shift in the US-China trade relationship to consider factors like national security and human rights. Beijing has accused the US of utilising human rights as a pretext to hinder China’s economic progress.
Initially focusing on solar products, cotton, tomatoes, and apparel, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act has expanded its scope to include new sectors such as aluminum and seafood. Silvers highlighted the continued presence of forced labour in various supply chains and underscored the importance of importers being aware of their supply chains to prevent human rights abuses. Since June 2022, the entity list has grown to encompass 75 companies allegedly involved in forced labour in Xinjiang or sourcing materials linked to such practices.
The newly added Chinese companies to the entity list are Baowu Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Co. Ltd and Changzhou Guanghui Food Ingredients Co. Ltd. This development marks a significant step in the US government’s efforts to combat forced labour and uphold human rights standards in global supply chains.