The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced ban on imports from two additional companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as part of enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
Nearly one year after implementation of the UFLPA, DHS examined over USD 1.3 billion worth of goods likely manufactured with forced labor. Today the DHS announced new actions to keep forced labor practices out of the US supply chain, reads a press release from the DHS on Friday. The interagency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), led by DHS, added two PRC-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List.
Effective June 12, 2023, goods produced by Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co. Ltd., and Ninestar Corporation and eight of its Zhuhai-based subsidiaries will be restricted from entering the United States as a result of the companies’ participation in business practices that target members of persecuted groups, including Uyghur minorities in the PRC.
The UFLPA, signed into law by President Biden in December 2021, prohibits goods from being imported into the United States that are either produced in Xinjiang, or by entities identified on the UFLPA Entity List, unless the importer can prove, by clear and convincing evidence, the goods were not produced with forced labor.
With today’s announcement, 22 Chinese companies are currently designated to the UFLPA Entity List. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began enforcing the UFLPA in June 2022, according to the statement. In the first year of enforcement, CBP has reviewed more than 4,000 shipments valued at over USD 1.3 billion under the new law, it noted. “This Administration is committed to eradicating forced labor from U.S. supply chains and will do so while facilitating legitimate trade and strengthening the US economy,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“Our Department will not tolerate governments abusing human rights and will continue to restrict all goods at our ports of entry that use materials or workers from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where the People’s Republic of China aggressively oppresses and exploits Uyghurs and other Muslim-majority communities,” he added.
Source: Kuwait News Agency