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On Thursday, the United States extended to it’s UFLPA Entity List banning imports from five additional Chinese companies, citing allegations of human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority. This move is part of the broader effort to prevent goods produced with forced labor from entering the American supply chain.
New Companies Added to thd UFLPA Entity List
The companies newly added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List are Hong Kong-based Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings and its parent company, Century Sunshine Group Holdings. Both are involved in manufacturing magnesium fertilizer and magnesium alloy products. Also included is Zijin Mining Group’s subsidiary, Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., which mines nonferrous metals.
Allegations and Response to Expansion of the UFLPA Entity List
These companies are accused of participating in forced labor practices linked to the repression of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in China’s Xinjiang region. U.S. officials allege that Chinese authorities have established labor camps where Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other minorities are subjected to forced labor. Beijing has consistently denied these claims.
UFLPA Entity List Expansion
The UFLPA Entity List has now expanded to include over 70 entities, reflecting a significant increase in the scope of companies implicated in forced labor practices. This expanded list encompasses a broad range of goods and industries, including cotton apparel, automotive parts, vinyl flooring, and solar panels.
The UFLPA Entity List targets companies engaged in various activities that contribute to forced labor practices within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Specifically, it identifies businesses that collaborate with the regional government in the recruitment, transportation, or exploitation of forced labor from Uyghurs and other persecuted minority groups. These collaborations can involve direct involvement in labor camps or indirect support through supply chain connections that perpetuate forced labor conditions.
The aim of the UFLPA Entity List is to prevent these goods from entering the American market, thereby exerting economic pressure on companies that support or benefit from human rights abuses. By targeting entities linked to such practices, the U.S. government seeks to curb the use of forced labor and promote ethical sourcing and trade practices globally.
Response from Targeted Companies
The newly targeted companies have yet to comment on the ban.
This latest action underscores the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to addressing forced labor in global supply chains, particularly concerning goods sourced from Xinjiang.