US bans imports from 5 more Chinese companies over Uygur forced labour

The targeted companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The companies were added to the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts imports tied to what the US government characterises as an ongoing genocide of minorities in China’s western Xinjiang region.

The list now includes over 70 entities tied to products including cotton apparel, vehicle parts, vinyl flooring and solar panels.

The list identifies those who work with the government of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to recruit and transport Uygurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz or members of other persecuted groups out of the region, and those who source material from the region or from people who work with the government of Xinjiang.

US officials say Chinese authorities have established labour camps for Uygurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses.

“The so-called ‘forced labour in Xinjiang is nothing but an egregious lie propagated by anti-China forces and a tool for US politicians to destabilise Xinjiang and contain China’s development,” a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said on Thursday in a statement.

“China will continue to firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.”