Biden Signs Bill Banning Imports of Xinjiang Products from China

US-China Human Rights Conflict Expands
Backlash Hits Companies... Intel Apologizes to China, White House Expresses Discontent

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden signed the "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act," which in principle bans the import of goods produced in Xinjiang, China, on the 23rd (local time). The human rights conflict between the U.S. and China, ignited by the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, has now spilled over into the industrial sector.

With the law taking effect, anyone importing goods produced in Xinjiang into the U.S. must prove to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that forced labor was not involved. Previously, only cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang were banned from import, but now all items are subject to the ban.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized in a statement, "Addressing the issue of forced labor is a top priority for this administration. We urge the Chinese government to immediately halt the genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region."

The Congress, which passed the bill on a bipartisan basis, immediately expressed its welcome. Senator Jeff Merkley, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, "The United States has sent a strong and bipartisan message that it will not turn a blind eye to China's human rights abuses."

President Biden's signing is particularly notable as it came shortly after semiconductor company Intel apologized following China's backlash after urging its suppliers to be cautious about using Xinjiang-produced goods.

On the day, Intel issued an apology statement saying, "We deeply apologize for causing confusion to our respected Chinese customers, partners, and the public." U.S. media evaluated that Intel, which has a significant portion of its sales in China, surrendered to the fierce attacks from Chinese media and netizens.

The White House expressed discomfort over Intel's apology. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing that day, "U.S. companies should not feel the need to apologize for opposing human rights abuses."

Psaki also warned, "Companies that fail to address forced labor and human rights abuses in their supply chains may face serious legal risks and reputational damage not only in the U.S. but also in Europe and other regions."

The Wall Street Journal pointed out that Intel is the most recent example of a company caught in the difficult position between Washington and Beijing. Intel is a company actively responding to the Biden administration's semiconductor supply chain stabilization measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.