The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the addition of 37 entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This marks the largest single expansion since the law was enacted, bringing the total number of entities on the list to 144. These companies are linked to forced labor practices in China and include a major supplier of critical minerals and one of the world's largest textile manufacturers.
"In adding 37 companies to the UFLPA Entities List and bringing the total to nearly 150, we again demonstrate our relentless fight against the cruelty of forced labor, our unwavering commitment to basic human rights, and our tireless defense of a free, fair, and competitive market," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
Acting Under Secretary for Policy Robert Paschall added, "With each addition to the UFLPA Entity List, we are building momentum and showing that our efforts are sustainable and enduring in eradicating forced labor in our nation’s supply chains."
The newly listed entities include companies involved in mining critical minerals in Xinjiang, producing textiles from Xinjiang cotton for global export, and manufacturing solar module inputs using polysilicon sourced from Xinjiang.
This move by DHS is part of ongoing efforts by the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) to eliminate forced labor from U.S. supply chains. The task force has identified nearly 150 companies benefiting from such practices within three years since enforcement began.
Effective January 15, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will presume goods produced by these entities are prohibited from entering the United States unless proven otherwise.
Several specific companies were named as part of this expansion. Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Hongyuan Green Energy Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Meike Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Shuangliang Silicon Materials (Batou) Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Energy (Group) Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd., among others have been cited for sourcing materials or participating in activities linked with forced labor.
A technical correction was also made regarding an entity's name on the list under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(ii).
The UFLPA was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in December 2021. It mandates that goods mined or produced wholly or partly in Xinjiang or by listed entities be presumed prohibited from importation into the United States unless clear evidence proves they were not made with forced labor.
This expansion underscores DHS's commitment to combating forced labor within global supply chains.
