The United States has recently implemented a ban on imports from additional Chinese companies.
The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that it has imposed a new ban on imports involving the Uyghurs. This ban specifically targets 37 textile, mining, and solar companies.
The U.S. has added the companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List. This list aims to restrict the import of goods associated with China’s human rights abuses and ongoing genocide in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Chinese authorities have been accused by U.S. authorities of setting up internment camps in China’s western Xinjiang region for Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups. However, Beijing has vehemently denied these allegations and claims that there are no human rights abuses taking place.
According to the U.S., the list of newly listed companies includes Donghai JA Solar Technology Co, a company that develops solar-energy products using polysilicon from Xinjiang, and Hongyuan Green Energy Co, which sources polysilicon from the region.
Zijin Mining Group Co and its three subsidiaries, which source and extract zinc, copper, and other metals from the region, are included among the mining companies.
Since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was signed into law in December 2021, the list of companies has grown to 144 with the latest additions.
The companies were not immediately available for comment.
The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment, according to a spokesperson.