A bipartisan group of eight members of the US Congress sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday (September 3), requesting a briefing on the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). In particular, they highlighted concerns that the cotton used in the popular toy “Labubu” may be linked to forced labor practices, urging for enhanced tracking and enforcement along the supply chain.
The letter, signed by Chairman John Moolenaar of the US House Select Committee on China Issues, Co-Chair Chris Smith of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), as well as members Ro Khanna and Jeff Merkley among others, called on DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to provide information on enforcement efforts to Congress within 30 days.
The lawmakers pointed out in the letter that recent media reports and supply chain analyses have indicated that the risks associated with forced labor in China may extend to various sectors, including consumer goods, textiles, seafood, steel, aluminum, polysilicon, critical minerals, and other advanced materials.
Specifically, the letter raised concerns about reports linking some of the cotton used in the popular toy “Labubu” to forced labor practices. It urged the DHS to explain how they are tracing the sources of these products in the supply chain and preventing goods involving forced labor from entering the US market through third countries for processing or transshipment.
The bipartisan legislators also requested the government to update and expand the entity list under UFLPA, which serves as a key tool in preventing goods produced through forced labor from being imported into the United States, thereby creating a fair competitive environment for American businesses. They also asked for data on goods detained, released, excluded, or seized in the past year and specific measures taken by customs authorities in tracking supply chains, verifying origins, and identifying non-compliance risks using artificial intelligence (AI).
DHS recently added 43 companies to the UFLPA entity list in July, marking the largest expansion since its implementation in 2022. Lawmakers noted that the listing process for hundreds of other companies is still pending approval, urging the government to strengthen enforcement efforts to prevent supply chains from circumventing US import restrictions.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, enacted in 2021, aims to prevent goods produced through forced labor of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China from entering the US market, holding entities involved in such practices accountable.
The law operates on a “rebuttable presumption” basis, essentially banning the import of goods produced in Xinjiang or related to entities on the UFLPA entity list unless importers can prove that the products were not made through forced labor.