In what was a bipartisan effort to address the Chinese treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China, Congress has passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which President Joe Biden signed Dec. 23.
The White House said in a statement that H.R. 6256,”bans imports from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) of the People’s Republic of China and imposes sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for forced labor in the region.”
According to the BBC, the Chinese government has been accused of genocide, abuse and forcing Uyghurs into labor camps. The Washington Post reported that while the bill passed almost unanimously in the House with only one “no” vote by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), there was controversy as Apple lobbied against the bill. However, Apple has denied that it is lobbying against it and says the computer company does not rely on forced labor. Business Insider reported that Nike and Coca-Cola have also lobbied on the bill but the companies denied using forced labor.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released a joint statement praising the bill which is designed to make sure goods made from slave labor will not end up in the U.S. market. The two senators were the authors of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, according to the statement, which is the first piece of legislation pertaining to Uyghur human rights in the world.
“The United States is so reliant on China that we have turned a blind eye to the slave labor that makes our clothes, our solar panels, and much more,” Rubio said. “That changes today. Our Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act will require businesses importing goods into the United States to prove that their supply chains are not tainted with slave labor. It is time to end our economic addiction to China.”
Merkley added that the U.S. must send a “resounding and unequivocal message" against genocide and slave labor.
“This deal to get the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to the President’s desk is essential in that effort,” Merkley said. “It ensures that American consumers and businesses can buy goods without inadvertent complicity in China’s horrific human rights abuses. As the Chinese government tries to whitewash their genocide and claim a propaganda victory with the upcoming Olympics, it is more important than ever for us to speak out and take action.”
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) explained on the House floor that the bill prohibits import of goods from Xinjiang unless there is proof that the products did not come from forced labor. It also imposes sanctions on officials facilitating the use of forced labor against Chinese minorities, while adding financial disclosures for public companies that do business in China. It also calls for diplomatic strategy to address forced labor in China.
Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) is a co-sponsor of the bill and said he is compelled to move the legislation due to alleged genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese government against Uyghurs and Muslims, adding that forced labor is a key factor.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said it is already illegal to import products made by slave labor, but the bill makes it a presumption that goods produced in Xinjiang are done with slave labor unless proven otherwise.
“The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act prohibits imports from Xinjiang to the U.S. by creating a rebuttable presumption,” Smith said on the House floor. “That is the core of this bill, a presumption that all goods produced in the region are made with forced labor unless U.S. Customs and Border Protection certifies by clear and convincing evidence that goods were not produced with forced labor."
