The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the inclusion of additional textile companies from the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This action aims to combat forced labor and hold accountable those involved in human rights violations against Uyghurs and other minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
Starting November 1, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will enforce a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by Esquel Group, Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. are barred from entering the United States. The DHS's Textile Enforcement Plan underlines its commitment to focusing on high-priority sectors like apparel and cotton products for enforcement under the UFLPA Strategy.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas stated, "Through today’s expansion of the Entity List, we enable American businesses to better assess their supply chains and ensure they do not profit, directly or indirectly, from the use of forced labor." He added that DHS would continue enforcing the UFLPA to uphold human rights and maintain a fair marketplace.
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), chaired by DHS with members including various U.S. departments, has now listed 78 entities since December 2021 when the UFLPA was enacted. The list includes companies across multiple sectors such as apparel, agriculture, electronics, and textiles.
Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers emphasized their dedication to removing forced labor from supply chains: “Our enforcement efforts are yielding results. Our Administration is committed to advancing this momentum and strengthening accountability across global supply chains.”
Esquel Group is identified as sourcing cotton from XUAR, leading to its addition to the list along with its subsidiaries Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. Despite being removed from one section of the list due to lack of evidence under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(i), Changji Esquel remains listed under another section for sourcing cotton from XUAR.
The bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act mandates CBP to presume goods produced in XUAR or by listed entities involve forced labor unless proven otherwise by clear evidence. Since June 2022, CBP has reviewed over 9,700 shipments valued at more than $3.5 billion under this act.
This announcement aligns with President Biden’s Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment Globally, directing federal agencies to promote internationally recognized labor rights.
