Author: By Uyghur Times Staff
Time and Date: Aug 8, 2024
The United States has announced a ban on imports from five additional Chinese companies due to their alleged involvement in human rights abuses against Uyghurs, part of an ongoing effort to eliminate goods produced with forced labor from the American supply chain.
The newly banned entities include Hong Kong-based Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings and its parent company, Century Sunshine Group Holdings. Both firms are involved in the production of magnesium fertilizer and magnesium alloy products. Additionally, Zijin Mining Group Co’s subsidiary, Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co, which extracts nonferrous metals, has been targeted. These companies have yet to respond to requests for comment.
These firms have been added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, a measure aimed at curbing imports linked to what the U.S. government defines as ongoing genocide against minorities in China’s Xinjiang region. This list now features over 70 entities associated with products such as cotton apparel, automotive parts, vinyl flooring, and solar panels. It includes organizations collaborating with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s government to recruit and transport Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or other persecuted groups, as well as those sourcing materials from the region.
U.S. officials assert that Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Uyghur homeland, a claim Beijing vehemently denies. In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the ban, calling the allegations “an egregious lie” and a tool used by U.S. politicians to destabilize “Xinjiang” and hinder China’s progress. The spokesperson reiterated China’s commitment to defending the rights and interests of its companies.
This expanded import ban reflects ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China over human rights issues and highlights the global scrutiny of labor practices in Uyghur homeland. The inclusion of these companies on the entity list underscores the U.S. commitment to addressing forced labor and human rights abuses, while intensifying the broader geopolitical conflict between the two nations.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was enacted to prevent goods produced through forced labor from entering the U.S. market, in response to concerns over human rights abuses in Uyghur region. The Act is part of a broader international effort to hold entities accountable for their role in what many regard as severe violations of human rights.
