The Department of Homeland Security has announced a ban on the import of goods from a Chinese steel manufacturer and a Chinese maker of artificial sweetener. This action comes in response to accusations of forced labor practices in China's Xinjiang region.
The move is part of the U.S. government's efforts to prevent products linked to human rights abuses from entering the country. This marks the first time that a China-based steel company and an aspartame sweetener business have been targeted by U.S. law enforcement under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Undersecretary of Homeland Security for policy, Robert Silvers, emphasized the commitment to eliminating forced labor from U.S. supply chains and upholding human rights values. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, was a response to allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
The enforcement of the law initially focused on solar products, tomatoes, cotton, and apparel but has since expanded to include sectors like aluminum and seafood. The U.S. government has identified a total of 75 companies accused of using forced labor in Xinjiang or sourcing materials connected to such labor practices.
The Chinese companies newly added to the entity list are Baowu Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Co. Ltd and Changzhou Guanghui Food Ingredients Co. Ltd. These actions reflect a shift in the U.S.-China trade relationship towards considering national security and human rights concerns.
Despite Beijing's denial of the allegations and its defense of policies in Xinjiang, the U.S. continues to enforce laws aimed at combating forced labor and human rights abuses in supply chains. The Department of Homeland Security's actions underscore the government's determination to hold entities accountable for profiting from exploitation and abuse.
