The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released an updated version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) on Wednesday (July 9th), aiming to further eliminate forced labor in the U.S. supply chains. The new strategy adds three high-priority enforcement industries: aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and seafood.
DHS, in a statement, mentioned that these industries were added because there is a higher risk of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang being subjected to forced labor in these sectors.
The enforcement agencies will also continue to prioritize industries such as apparel, cotton and cotton products, silicon-based products (including polysilicon), and tomatoes and their downstream products.
“Forced labor is a form of modern slavery, and the Department of Homeland Security is committed to eradicating it from our supply chains,” said Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security in a statement.
Mayorkas emphasized, “Today’s announcement of the updated Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act strategy and the new focus industries reflects the evolving and expanding scope of those who seek to evade the law and profit from exploiting the abused.”
He further stated that the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) under DHS will continue to collaborate with industry, civil society, labor organizations, and international partners to eliminate forced labor in U.S. and international supply chains.
Entities designated as enforcement priority industries will be the focal points for screening under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, potentially facing various enforcement actions such as entity listing, export restrictions, economic sanctions, and visa restrictions.
Furthermore, prior to the release of this new strategy, DHS recently added three entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list, bringing the total number of Chinese firms restricted from entering the U.S. market to 68.
Robert Silvers, the Deputy Secretary of DHS and head of FLETF, stated, “We are dedicated to expanding the enforcement of UFLPA to keep goods produced by forced labor out of the American market.”
He mentioned that since the implementation of UFLPA two years ago, companies have been altering their behaviors to ensure that their supply chains are free from products involving forced labor, thereby protecting workers and enhancing the economic security of the nation.
“Thus far, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has refused nearly 3,500 shipments of such goods entering the country, valued at over $695 million,” Silvers said. “Our enforcement efforts will continue, and we will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders to strengthen the shared mission of this work.”