US adds 43 Chinese companies to Uygur forced labour blacklist

The United States has expanded its efforts to combat alleged forced labor in China's Xinjiang region by adding 43 Chinese companies to a blacklist. This move, announced Friday, aims to prevent goods produced under such conditions from entering the U.S. market.

This latest action, enforced under the Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), increases the Department of Homeland Security's entity list by 30 percent. The targeted companies operate in diverse sectors, including food, cotton, pharmaceuticals, metals, and lithium production. The UFLPA, enacted by Congress in 2021, specifically addresses imports from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that the newly listed entities are connected to the production and sale of goods made in Xinjiang or with the forced labor of Uyghurs and other specified groups. The affected sectors and products range widely, encompassing seafood, gold, copper, transportation infrastructure, aluminum, tomatoes, cotton, garments, and frozen foods.

Among the additions is Hunan Aihua Group, identified as one of China's largest capacitor manufacturers. A U.S. Federal Register notice indicated that the government believes the company sources essential materials like chemical foil from the Xinjiang region. Another notable company is Chacha Food Co., a producer of snack foods such as nuts and roasted seeds, whose products are exported globally to nearly 50 countries and regions.

This marks the third time in the week that Washington has announced measures targeting China, signaling a continued focus on human rights concerns related to the Xinjiang region and its economic implications.

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The newly listed entities are connected to the production and sale of goods made in Xinjiang or with the forced labour of Uygurs and other groups specified in the UFLPA.