US Imposes Additional Sanctions on 3 Chinese Companies Suspected of Uyghur Forced Labor

China "Forced labor is a lie... Disrupting market order" rebuttal

The U.S. government has decided to impose additional sanctions on three Chinese companies suspected of using forced labor involving Uyghurs: Xinjiang Zhongtai Group, Xinjiang Tianshan Cotton Textile, and Xinjiang Tianmen Textile.

The Department of Homeland Security, which chairs the U.S. interagency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (TF), announced on the 26th (local time) that this decision was made under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Under the UFLPA, products made in the Xinjiang region can only be imported into the U.S. if there is a determination that they were not produced using forced labor or if they are not on the blacklist.

Xinjiang Zhongtai Group produces polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Xinjiang Tianshan Cotton Textile manufactures textile products, and Xinjiang Tianmen Textile produces yarn and textiles. Products from these companies will be banned from import into the U.S. starting from the 27th.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated, "We will not tolerate companies that exploit forced labor and abuse individual human rights for profit," adding, "The Biden administration will work to eradicate forced labor of Uyghurs in China."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The State Department also updated its business advisory related to supply chains in the Xinjiang region on the same day, urging U.S. companies to be cautious of extensive evidence of forced labor, crimes against humanity, and ongoing genocide in the region. Including this case, a total of 27 Chinese companies have been blacklisted under the UFLPA.

China has repeatedly maintained the position that "the forced labor claims in Xinjiang asserted by the U.S. are fabricated." Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rebutted at a regular briefing, saying, "As China has stated multiple times, the so-called 'forced labor in Xinjiang' is a century’s lie concocted by anti-China forces to smear China," and that "this is completely contrary to the fact that the rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are guaranteed."

Spokesperson Wang also added, "The U.S. created the so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act based on lies and placed Chinese companies on the sanctions list, which suppresses China’s development and disrupts international trade rules and market order," and stated, "China will take resolute measures to protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies."

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