The United States has intensified its crackdown on Chinese companies allegedly tied to forced labor in the Xinjiang region, banning imports from 37 additional firms. Announced by the Department of Homeland Security, the ban targets key players in textiles, mining, and solar industries, including Huafu Fashion Co, a major global textile manufacturer, and its 25 subsidiaries. The companies are accused of links to forced labor in Xinjiang’s cotton industry, which the US claims involves systemic human rights abuses against the Uyghur population. China denies these allegations.
The banned entities have been added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, bringing the total number of blacklisted firms to 144 since the law’s enactment in December 2021. Among those targeted are solar product manufacturers like Donghai JA Solar Technology Co and mining giant Zijin Mining Group Co, accused of sourcing materials and extracting metals from the region. The Entity List blocks goods tied to alleged human rights violations, a move that has drawn no immediate response from the banned companies or China’s Washington embassy.
In a related development, the Biden administration has introduced measures to strengthen US car manufacturing and artificial intelligence industries while tightening restrictions on Chinese technology. A newly approved rule bans personal smart cars from China and Russia, with plans to assess extending this ban to commercial vehicles. These policies could influence the next administration, as former President Donald Trump may decide whether to sustain or revise these measures if he takes office.
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