Expanding the Uyghur Forced Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 78 companies from the People’s Republic of China including several textile manufacturers to it. This helpsthe department prevent import of goods produced through forced labor, specifically from companies associated with Uyghur labor in the Xinjiang region.

Among the listed companies include prominent textile firms such as Esquel Group, Guangdong Esquel Textile Co, and Turpan Esquel Textile Co. The new regulations empower the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to bar entry of products produced by these companies. Changji Esquel Textile Co also faces restrictions as it has been removed from Section One of the UFLPA list, effectively banning its goods from the U.S. market.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary, DHS, emphasises, the list plays a pivotal role in helping American businesses maintain ethical supply chains and remain free from forced labor.Expansion of the list also enables American businesses better assess their supply chains and ensure they do not profit, directly or indirectly, from the use of forced labor, he adds.

Robert Silvers, Under Secretary-Policy and Chairman, Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, affirms, the administration is committed to strengthening accountability across global supply chains.

Since its inception in December 2021, the UFLPA Entity List has grown to include companies across multiple industries, from agriculture to electronics, aiming to hold the PRC accountable for alleged human rights abuses and forced labor practices targeting Uyghurs and other minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The expansion of this list underscores the US stance against forced labor and its dedication to supporting Uyghurs and other affected groups in East Turkistan.