The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Nov. 22 that it had banned 29 companies from importing goods into the United States due to their involvement in forced labor practices. This latest action, part of ongoing enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), brings the total number of sanctioned companies to 107. These firms operate in sectors such as agriculture, metals, and technology.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stressed that forced labor undermines human rights and economic integrity, declaring that the US will not allow products made under such conditions into its markets. Undersecretary Robert Silvers called on businesses to scrutinize their supply chains and act responsibly, noting that the UFLPA serves as a key tool to address the issue.

NEW: Today, DHS, on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), announced the addition of 29 companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List – bringing the total number of entities on the UFLPA… pic.twitter.com/NPlRnA3Kdb

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 22, 2024

The latest enforcement focused heavily on agriculture, with 23 of the blacklisted companies producing items like tomato paste, walnuts, and raisins. Other sanctioned firms mine and process valuable metals such as gold and chromium. Two major state-owned enterprises, Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Industry Group Co. and Xinjiang Zhonghe Co., were identified as supplying materials used in battery production. These materials have drawn scrutiny from US lawmakers for their connection to forced labor.

US Blacklists 29 Chinese Companies Over Forced Laborhttps://t.co/4jpLZS4TRm

— Larry Elder (@larryelder) November 24, 2024

Members of Congress, including Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), applauded the DHS action but urged further steps to eliminate reliance on Chinese supply chains, particularly for critical industries like energy storage. Calls for comprehensive reforms include addressing loopholes that allow some goods made with forced labor to bypass customs inspections under current laws.

The U.S. has finally added Xinjiang Nonferrous and other known offenders to its list of forced labor companies in China. @ChuBailiang and I broke the story two years ago on the company’s participation in labor transfers the U.S. defines as forced labor https://t.co/E6GSOQcemd

— Ana Swanson (@AnaSwanson) November 24, 2024

Globally, concerns over labor abuses in Xinjiang have prompted similar actions. The European Union recently approved measures to block imports tied to forced labor and has implemented due diligence rules requiring companies to ensure compliance within their supply chains.