US Places Sanctions on Two China-Based Firms Citing Uyghur Forced Labour Concerns

Two Chinese companies, Camel Group (battery maker) and Chenguang Biotech Group (spice and extract manufacturer), have been sanctioned by the United States for their labor practices. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declared that products from these companies will be banned from entering the nation starting on Wednesday, 2nd August, 2023. The firms are accused of specifically targeting members of persecuted communities in China.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced new measures to combat forced labor practices within the U.S. supply chain and hold those responsible for the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. As part of the effort, the interagency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), led by DHS, added two China-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List.

According to the official release from DHS, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to holding organizations accountable for their human rights abuses and forced labor practices. He also mentioned that they would continue collaborating with partners to prevent goods made with forced labor from Xinjiang from entering the U.S. market, while facilitating legitimate trade.

The recent sanctions announcement has expanded the UFLPA Entity List to include a total of 24 companies. Among the many points of contention between Beijing and Washington, China's treatment of the Uyghurs has been a major issue, as reported by Al Jazeera. Despite accusations, Beijing denies any wrongdoing and justifies its policies towards Uyghurs and other minorities as a measure to counter "extremism."

After President Joe Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) into law in December 2021, importing goods from Xinjiang or companies on the UFLPA Entity List into the United States became illegal, unless the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can provide convincing proof that the goods were not made using forced labor.

The DHS is also releasing the 2023 Updates to the Strategy to Prevent the Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People's Republic of China, as required by Congress. The DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans; CBP; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are leading the Department's efforts to change importers' behavior and hold those responsible for severe forced labor abuses, as stated in the strategy.

For more updates keep visiting our website www.topstoriesworld.com where we provide unbiased, true, and top stories of the world.