DHS Expands Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has expanded the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list to include five more Chinese companies, strengthening efforts to combat forced labor and promote accountability for human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday the expansion of the entity list under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) to combat the exploitation and abuse of the Uyghur people. The list now includes 73 entities, with five new additions from the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Newly added entities include Century Sunshine Group Holdings Ltd., Kashgar Construction Engineering (Group) Co., Ltd., Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings, Ltd., Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Tengxiang Magnesium Products Co., Ltd. From August 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will assume that goods from these companies are produced with forced labor and prohibit their entry into the U.S.

This move signifies DHS's commitment to eradicating forced labor and ensuring accountability for the PRC's genocide and crimes against human rights groups. DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasized the importance of rigorous enforcement of the UFLPA. The decision also involves other U.S. departments and aims to provide importers with information to ensure compliance with UFLPA stipulated due diligence requirements.

Robert Silvers, DHS Under-secretary for Policy and FLETF chairman, noted the ongoing commitment to blocking goods made with forced labor from entering U.S. supply chains. The statement highlighted reasonable cause to believe that some newly added entities collaborate with the XUAR government to exploit forced labor of persecuted groups, including Uyghurs.

(With inputs from agencies.)