The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of three People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This action targets seafood, aluminum, and footwear sectors integral to Xinjiang's economy and aims to prevent goods made with forced labor from entering the U.S. market.
Effective June 12, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will assume that goods produced by these entities are prohibited from entering the United States unless proven otherwise. The entities added include Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd., Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd.
“The Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate forced labor in U.S. supply chains and will enforce our laws across all industries and sectors,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), chaired by DHS, is part of the United States’ commitment to eradicating forced labor and promoting accountability for human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang.
Including today's additions, the FLETF has listed 68 entities since the UFLPA was enacted in December 2021. These entities span various sectors including agriculture, apparel, electronics, food additives, household appliances, nonferrous metals, polysilicon, and plastics.
“Today’s action reaffirms our commitment to robust enforcement of the UFLPA,” said DHS Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers. “It is imperative for companies to conduct due diligence and know where their products are coming from.”
Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd., based in Shandong Province, processes frozen seafood products among other items. The FLETF found evidence that this company participated in government-sponsored labor transfer programs involving persecuted groups such as Uyghurs.
“Shrimp supply chains have a disturbing pattern of profiting off vulnerable populations,” said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd., headquartered in Guangdong Province, manufactures shoes and shoe materials. The FLETF found that this company cooperated with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) to recruit individuals from persecuted groups for labor at its factory.
Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd., located in Xinjiang itself, produces electrolytic aluminum among other products. Evidence suggests it participated in government-sponsored labor transfer programs involving persecuted groups.
The bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act mandates CBP apply a rebuttable presumption against goods produced with forced labor unless proven otherwise by clear evidence. Since enforcement began in June 2022, CBP has reviewed nearly 8,500 shipments valued at over $3.3 billion under this act.
This announcement aligns with President Biden's November 2023 memorandum on advancing worker empowerment globally through federal agencies engaged abroad promoting internationally recognized labor rights.
You can read more about the FLETF by visiting the UFLPA page.
