Federal officials are putting 43 more China-based companies under the U.S. government’s forced-labor import crackdown, with the new restrictions set to take effect Monday. The move targets businesses tied to Xinjiang sourcing or government-linked transfers of Uyghurs and other persecuted groups, expanding the list fast enough to reshape compliance checklists for importers.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the additions Friday, calling them the largest single expansion of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List since the law took effect. The department said the list will rise to 187 entities, a 30% increase, while also issuing technical updates to the official names of two companies already listed.
Starting Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s UFLPA guidance will govern a rebuttable presumption that goods made by the newly listed companies cannot enter the United States. DHS identified aluminum, apparel, copper, cotton, tomatoes and downstream products as affected sectors, meaning importers will need to document their supply chains before cargo reaches the dock.
The enforcement push arrives with a sizable paper trail. According to the Dallas Express, DHS said CBP has denied entry to more than 24,300 shipments valued at nearly $1 billion since the law was enacted in December 2021.
Why The UFLPA List Matters Beyond China
Congress approved the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act on December 23, 2021, to keep goods made with forced labor in Xinjiang from reaching the U.S. market, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office. Under the system explained by CBP, goods mined, produced or manufactured wholly or partly in Xinjiang, or by an entity on the list, are presumed barred unless the importer can overcome that presumption through the agency’s review process.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the department would ensure products from the 43 companies do not enter the country, while Rob Law described the expansion as part of an economic and national-security strategy, according to the DHS announcement. The department also warned that importers who knowingly try to circumvent the action could face prosecution.
What Importers Should Expect Monday
The revised list is scheduled to appear as an appendix to a Federal Register notice on Monday. Businesses will be watching for company names, aliases and supply-chain connections that could determine whether shipments are detained, excluded, re-exported or allowed after review, while CBP’s trade data dashboard tracks UFLPA reviews and enforcement actions.
Legal Stakes For Importers
The legal exposure is aimed at companies attempting to move prohibited merchandise through the import system, not at ordinary consumers. DHS Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security Aris Kourkoumelis said importers who knowingly bring in goods made with forced labor will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, as reported by the Dallas Express.
