The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and including the U.S. Department of Labor, has introduced a new strategy to strengthen enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The aim is to prevent goods produced with forced labor in China from entering the United States.
This updated 2025 enforcement plan is part of broader efforts by the Trump Administration to address trade practices that may harm American workers. The strategy seeks to ensure that foreign countries do not gain an unfair advantage in global trade by exploiting their workforce.
“America First means keeping foreign goods made with forced labor off our shelves and ensuring American businesses aren’t put at a disadvantage,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “This joint strategy equips our enforcement agencies with the tools they need to crack down on China and other bad actors whose trade abuses distort markets and hurt American workers.”
The UFLPA prohibits imports from China's Xinjiang region or from entities identified as using forced labor. The revised strategy increases support for Customs and Border Protection in identifying and stopping these imports. It also updates the UFLPA Entity List, which now includes 144 organizations barred from importing goods due to forced labor concerns. The Bureau of International Labor Affairs, part of the Department of Labor, co-chairs the subcommittee responsible for maintaining this list and leads research into new entities.
Additionally, five sectors—caustic soda, jujubes, copper, lithium, and steel—have been added as priority areas under UFLPA because of their heightened risk for forced labor in supply chains. There are now 13 high-priority sectors identified under this law. By focusing on these industries, companies can better manage risks related to reputation and regulation while signaling that forced labor will not be tolerated.
China is recognized as a major producer of caustic soda and jujubes, both listed among goods produced with child or forced labor according to the department’s data. In total, 31 types of goods from China appear on this list—more than any other country—with 21 linked specifically to forced labor in Xinjiang. This information supports businesses seeking to avoid problematic supply chains and aids enforcement by Customs and Border Protection.
More details about efforts to protect American workers and address foreign labor abuses are available through departmental resources.
