President Biden signed a bill into law on Thursday that bans all imports from China’s Xinjiang region over allegations of forced labor as the US continues to ramp up the pressure on Beijing.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act creates a presumption that all goods sourced from Xinjiang are the products of forced labor. US companies that wish to continue to do business in the region can apply for exemptions but must present “clear and convincing evidence” that their supply chain is free of forced labor.
The import ban must be implemented within 180 days of President Biden signing the bill. The legislation could also be used to target Chinese officials with sanctions who the US deems responsible for alleged human rights violations.
The import ban will have a significant impact on Xinjiang’s economy and the US companies who do business in the region. Many US corporations source goods from Xinjiang and some lobbied against the legislation, including Nike and Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola told The New York Times that it “strictly prohibits any type of forced labor in our supply chain” and uses third-party auditors to monitor its suppliers in Xinjiang. But the corporate pressure did not sway Congress, and the bill passed unanimously through the Senate and near-unanimously through the House in a rare show of bipartisanship.
Most of the claims of forced labor in Xinjiang come from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a think tank whose funders include the Pentagon, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
There are millions of Americans who work in the import industry. I am sure that many who may lose their jobs really, really appreciate this.
The President needs to sign a bill prohibiting the CIA from continuing to finance terrorism in Xinjiang.
You a funnier than me!
Beginning with Afghanistan (thats 30 yrs now) the CIA is expert at stirring jihad in troubled waters …, and the default in such cases has always to be Langley.
The US really should look in the mirror if it wants to find countries guilty of human rights abuses through forced labor. The US has the world’s largest prison population by far. Many prisoners are non-violent drug convictions. Many are forced into labor.
Nicely presented and laid out.
Thank you for the details. The US idea of “human rights “is very limited.
“a think tank whose funders include the Pentagon, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.” guess Coke and Nike should look into supporting them too?
China should ban all exports to the progressive liberal warmongers of the US.
The Chinese are concerned about separatist movements in their border areas, not “sanctions” from the peevish USA. So the actions of the US accomplish zero except creating resentment and hostility which one day will be returned in kind when America needs Chinese help.