The Ministry of Commerce Photo: VCG

China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the US decision to place sanctions on 29 Chinese firms under the so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday that 29 Chinese companies were being added to the so-called UFLPA Entity List. This move is completely unfounded, and uses "human rights" as a cover for outright bullying and economic coercion, according to the MOFCOM spokesperson. China has lodged solemn representations with the US. 

The spokesperson emphasized that China is firmly opposed to "forced labor" in any form and there is no forced labor in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The US, without any credible evidence, uses its domestic laws to impose sanctions simply because Chinese companies source materials from Xinjiang region or employ Xinjiang workers. This action gravely infringes on the basic rights of Xinjiang residents, damages the legitimate interests of the companies affected, and disrupts the stability of global supply chains.

"We urge the US to stop its political manipulation and smear campaign, and end its unjust suppression of Chinese companies. China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights of its businesses," said the spokesperson.

With these latest sanctions, the total number of entities, including the named subsidiaries, on the UFLPA Entity List totals 107 companies, according to a statement issued on the website of the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Effective on Monday, goods produced, in whole or in part, by these 29 entities will be restricted from entering the US. These companies produce a range of goods, including agricultural products and polysilicon materials, as well as processed nonferrous metals such as copper, gold, and nickel, according to the statement.

The UFLPA was signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2021.

Global Times