On December 4, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a forced labor finding concerning aluminum extrusions and profile products produced wholly or in part by Kingtom Aluminio S.R.L. (“Kingtom”), a Chinese-owned aluminum extruder in the Dominican Republic. Effective December 4, CBP will seize any articles that are covered by CBP’s forced labor finding
DHS Updates UFLPA Entity List with Additional Chinese Companies
On November 22, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of 29 companies based in China to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, bringing the total number of entities on the UFLPA Entity List to 107. The newly identified and listed companies are involved in (i) electronic materials and
DHS Updates UFLPA Entity List with Additional Chinese Textile Companies
On October 31, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that effective November 1, 2024, four textile Chinese entities have been added to the UFLPA Entity List. These entities have been determined by DHS to be facilities and entities that source material from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region or from persons working with the
Department of Labor Updates List of Goods Produced by Forced Labor
On September 5, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a revised version of its List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. This 2024 report identifies the types of goods, the industries involved and the countries that the DOL has reason to believe are produced by child labor or forced labor
DHS Updates UFLPA Entity List with Five Chinese Entities
On August 8, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced via a Federal Register notice that effective immediately, five Chinese entities have been added to the UFLPA Entity List. These entities have been determined by DHS to be either: (i) working with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) to recruit
Commerce and State Departments Issue Proposed Rules Addressing Restrictions on U.S. Persons’ Support for Foreign Military, Intelligence, and Security Services and Controls to Protect National Security and Human Rights
On July 29, 2024, both the Departments of Commerce and State issued separate but complementary proposed rules seeking public comment on enhanced restrictions on exports, reexports, or support to military or intelligence end users and end uses in countries of concern, consistent with the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Department of Commerce’s
DHS Updates UFLPA Entity List with 26 Chinese Entities
On May 17, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Federal Register notice announcing that effective immediately, 26 Chinese entities have been added to the UFLPA Entity List. These entities include cotton traders and warehouse facilities within China, but the majority of which operate outside of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). DHS
USTR Releases President Biden’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda and 2023 Annual Report
On March 1, 2024, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published President Biden’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda and 2023 Annual Report. This year’s agenda aims to further the cause of worker-centered trade policy, enhance the resilience of supply chains, and promote fair and sustainable trade practices. Below is a summary of
Chinese Silicon Producer Challenges Forced Labor Finding at U.S. Court of International Trade
On February 20, 2024, Hoshine Silicon (Jia Xing) Industry Co., Ltd. (“Jiaxing Hoshine”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoshine Silicon Industry Co., Ltd., filed a complaint at the United States Court of International Trade (USCIT) challenging the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) June 2021 decision to issue a withhold release order (WRO) against Hoshine
How Misaligned Commitments on Social Issues Create Risks for Your Company
The “S” in “ESG” (environmental, social, and governance) includes an extensive list of factors like workplace culture; environmental justice; health and safety; policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion; labor standards; data privacy; human rights; racial justice; and product safety. In the past several years, consumers and shareholders have become increasingly focused on company performance in