26th September 2023 – (Washington) In a significant move aimed at eradicating forced labour from its supply chain, the United States has included three Chinese companies on the forced labour entity list concerning Uyghurs. The announcement, made by the U.S. government on Tuesday, highlights the ongoing efforts to combat forced labour practices.
The companies targeted by this action are Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co, Ltd; Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co. Ltd, and Xinjiang Zhongtai Group Co. Ltd, as stated in the official posting.
Enacted in 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List (UFLPA) prohibits the importation of goods into the U.S. that are either produced in Xinjiang or by companies identified on the list, unless importers can provide evidence that the goods were not manufactured using forced labour.
The entity list specifically identifies organisations collaborating with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s government in the recruitment and transportation of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other persecuted groups from the region.
U.S. officials strongly believe that Chinese authorities have established labour camps in Xinjiang, targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups. These allegations have been met with denial by Beijing, which refutes any claims of human rights abuses.