WASHINGTON AP — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday a ban on the import of goods from two Chinese companies: Baowu Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. and Changzhou Guanghui Food Ingredients Co. Ltd. Both companies are accused of using forced labor from China’s Xinjiang region.
This move expands the U.S. government’s efforts to prevent products connected to human rights abuses from entering the country. It is also significant because it marks the first time that a steel manufacturer and an artificial sweetener producer from China have been targeted under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Robert Silvers, Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Policy, stated, Today’s actions reaffirm our commitment to eliminating forced labor from U.S. supply chains and upholding our values of human rights for all. No sector is off-limits. We will continue to identify entities across industries and hold accountable those who seek to profit from exploitation and abuse.
The legislation, signed into law by President Joe Biden at the end of 2021, was enacted in response to allegations of human rights violations against the Uyghur ethnic group and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. The Chinese government has dismissed these claims, arguing that its actions in the region are necessary to combat terrorism and maintain stability.
This new approach represents a significant shift in the U.S.-China trade relationship, emphasizing national security and human rights. Beijing has criticized the U.S. for using human rights issues as a cover to hinder China’s economic growth.
Initially, enforcement of the law focused on specific sectors such as solar products, tomatoes, cotton, and apparel. However, over recent months, the U.S. has expanded its focus to include other industries, like aluminum and seafood.
Silvers noted that the law has shifted the responsibility to importers, requiring them to understand their supply chains better. He emphasized that the enforcement actions demonstrate that the U.S. can uphold ethical standards without disrupting normal trade.
Since June 2022, the entity list has grown to include 75 companies accused of using forced labor in Xinjiang or sourcing materials associated with such practices, according to Homeland Security.