The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the inclusion of two companies from the People's Republic of China on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This action increases the total number of entities on the list to 75, as part of efforts to combat forced labor and address human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Starting October 3, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will enforce a presumption that goods produced by Baowu Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. and Changzhou Guanghui Food Ingredients Co., Ltd. are barred from entering the United States unless proven otherwise. This marks the first instance where steel and aspartame companies have been added to this list.
"The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is the Biden-Harris Administration’s most powerful tool to combat forced labor and hold its perpetrators to account," stated Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. He emphasized that American businesses are encouraged to scrutinize their supply chains under this act.
Robert Silvers, DHS Under Secretary for Policy, reiterated their commitment: "Today’s actions reaffirm our commitment to eliminating forced labor from U.S. supply chains and upholding our values of human rights for all."
Baowu Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., based in Urumqi Prefecture, engages in iron ore mining and steel manufacturing with allegations linking it to forced labor programs involving ethnic minorities such as Uyghurs and Kyrgyz.
Changzhou Guanghui Food Ingredients Co., Ltd., headquartered in Jiangsu, produces aspartame using materials sourced from XUAR, raising concerns about its compliance with forced labor prevention criteria.
Additionally, a technical correction was made regarding Changhong Meiling Co., Ltd., formerly known as Hefei Meiling Co., Ltd.; it remains on the list following a name change.
The bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act mandates CBP's enforcement against goods associated with forced labor unless clear evidence proves otherwise. Since June 2022, CBP has evaluated over 9,000 shipments valued at more than $3.4 billion under this act.
Further details about these actions can be found at DHS.gov/UFLPA.
