Alejandro Mayorkas United States Secretary of Homeland Security | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the addition of 26 textile companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. Effective from May 17, 2024, goods produced by these entities will be restricted from entering the United States. This move is intended to increase transparency and enable responsible companies to conduct due diligence on their supply chains, ensuring they do not include goods made with forced labor.
This action is part of a broader commitment by the United States to eliminate the use of forced labor in its supply chain and promote accountability for ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas stated, “The Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate forced labor in our nation’s supply chains.” He added that this announcement strengthens enforcement of the UFLPA and aids responsible companies in conducting due diligence.
Since its inception in December 2021, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), chaired by DHS, has added 65 entities spanning various sectors to the UFLPA Entity List. The recent addition of 26 companies represents the largest one-time expansion to date.
DHS Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers emphasized that these actions demonstrate America's commitment to preventing forced labor in its supply chains. He also underscored that companies must conduct due diligence regarding their product sources.
The inclusion of these entities advances DHS' Textile Enforcement Plan, which prioritizes examination and review of entities in the textile sector for possible inclusion on the UFLPA Entity List. Future designations will continue as part of DHS’ broader forced labor enforcement efforts.
These additions comprise cotton traders and warehouse facilities within China, most operating outside XUAR. This move will facilitate responsible companies in ensuring they are not purchasing cotton from entities sourcing from XUAR.
Since January 2021, prior to the UFLPA's implementation, cotton from XUAR was subject to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Withhold Release Order. Cotton and cotton products were also designated as a high priority sector under the Strategy to Prevent Importation of Goods Mined, Produced or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China, issued in June 2022.
The bipartisan UFLPA was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., in December 2021. It mandates that goods mined, produced or manufactured in XUAR, or produced by entities identified on the UFLPA Entity List, are prohibited from importation into the United States unless proven otherwise by clear and convincing evidence.
Today’s announcement aligns with President Biden’s memorandum on advancing worker empowerment, rights, and high labor standards globally. This reflects DHS’ prioritization of combating forced labor introduction into U.S. supply chains as outlined in the Department’s recent Quadrennial Homeland Security Review.
