The United States has added 43 Chinese companies to its Xinjiang forced-labor import ban, the largest single expansion of the blacklist since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was signed in December 2021.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the additions on July 31, bringing the total number of listed entities to 187, up from 144. Products from the affected companies — spanning aluminum, textiles, copper, cotton, and tomato processing — will be barred from entering the United States from August 3. Among those listed is Hunan AiHua Group, a major capacitor manufacturer accused of sourcing materials from Xinjiang. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has blocked more than 24,300 shipments worth roughly $1 billion since the law took effect.
China's Ministry of Commerce condemned the move as "economic coercion" that deviates from consensus reached between the two governments. Beijing, which denies the existence of forced labor in Xinjiang, said it would take necessary measures to protect Chinese enterprises. The announcement came just one day after a video call between senior trade officials from both countries.