Chairs Say UFLPA Enforcement Must be Prioritized

(Washington)—Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the Chair and Cochair, respectively, of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) issued the following statement in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s announcement of the addition of three new PRC-based companies to the “Entity List” required by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and the Department of State’s announcement of the Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory Addendum. 

“We welcome the announcements by DHS and the State Department regarding supply chains from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). It is good to shine a light on the bad actors facilitating forced labor and funding the XUAR genocide. Reports and lists alone are not sufficient accountability for the many PRC officials engaged in genocide or the companies complicit in forced labor. We will continue working with the Biden Administration and all those around the world committed to implementing and enforcing prohibitions on the import of the products of slavery. U.S. markets remain exposed to car parts, electric batteries, solar panels, rayon, and garments and goods imported by fashion companies such as Temu and SHEIN and made or mined with forced labor in China. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was passed to stop all companies from profiting off genocide—too many still do—and that is the most important task moving forward. We appreciate the dedication and hard work of the men and women at DHS and the Department of State who are implementing the historic UFPLA, a difficult challenge given the global dependence on XUAR goods and products. We pledge to continue supporting them in this task.”