U.S. Adds Two Companies to UFLPA Entity List
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added two companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s (UFLPA’s) Entity List. Goods produced by Camel Group Co., Ltd., Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Chenguang Biotechnology Group Yanqi Co. Ltd., will be restricted from entering the U.S. because of their work with the PRC government to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive forced labor or members of persecuted groups, including Uyghur minorities, out of the Xinjiang Uyghur region. Two other companies, Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co., Ltd., Ninestar Corporation and its subsidiaries, were added in June. U.S. Trade Ambassador Katharine Tai said in a statement, “Today’s additions demonstrate the United States’ unwavering commitment to eliminating forced labor.” Read the full USTR statement.
FLETF Publishes Report to Congress on UFLPA Strategy
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) published its annual report to Congress this week, 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. The report highlights the UFLPA’s rebuttable presumption and expands the UFLPA Entity List. Since the UFLPA went into effect through May 29, 2023, CBP has stopped more than 4,000 shipments of goods valued at over $1.3 billion for enforcement action review. Read the FLETF report to Congress. Federal agencies represented in the FLETF include the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, the Department of Treasury, and the State Department. Read the FLETF Report to Congress.
Fashion Companies Look for Sourcing Outside China
Close to 8 out of 10 U.S. fashion companies say they plan to reduce apparel sourcing from China over the next two years due to forced labor risks, according to results of a new benchmarking survey by the U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA). “A record high of 15 percent planning to ‘strongly decrease’ sourcing from” China. The report says the “strong sentiment” about sourcing from China was not present in past studies. The report adds that managing forced labor risks in the supply chain ranks as the 2nd top business challenge this year. Read the USFIA report.
