On August 1, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new actions to eliminate the use of forced labor practices in the U.S. supply chain by adding two China (PRC)-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List due to their participation in business practices involving Uyghur minorities in the Xinjiang region of China. For additional details on the companies, see DHS’ Federal Register Notice. This brings the total number of entities designated on the UFLPA Entity List to 24 companies. Since enforcement of the UFLPA began in June 2022, Customs and Border Protections (CBP) has reviewed more than 4,600 shipments valued at more than $1.64 billion under the UFLPA.
DHS has also released its mandated report to Congress, titled “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 updated UFLPA Strategy highlights enforcement of the UFLPA’s rebuttable presumption, which prohibits goods from being imported into the United States that are either produced in Xinjiang, or by entities identified on the UFLPA Entity List, unless the importer can prove, by clear and convincing evidence, the goods were not produced with forced labor. It also highlights certain additional resources needed for UFLPA strategy implementation and ongoing activities in coordination and collaboration appropriate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private-sector entities.