US adds 43 Chinese companies to Uygur forced labour blacklist

Washington’s third measure targeting Beijing this week expands import restrictions on food, cotton, metals and pharmaceutical firms

The White House on Friday added 43 Chinese companies to a blacklist that is meant to block imports made with alleged forced labour in Xinjiang, marking the third time this week Washington has announced measures aimed at China.

Enforcing the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA), the Department of Homeland Security increased its entity list by 30 per cent to include companies in sectors ranging from food and cotton to pharmaceuticals, metals and lithium production.

“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,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, citing seafood, gold, copper, transportation infrastructure, aluminium, tomatoes, cotton, garments and frozen food, among the targeted sectors.

The expanded list included one of China’s largest capacitor manufacturers, Hunan Aihua Group, with a US Federal Register notice saying the government believes the company sources chemical foil and other materials from the region.

Another notable entity was Chacha Food Co, whose products are exported to close to 50 countries and regions and which mainly produces snack foods such as nuts and roasted seeds, the posting said.