Impacts from Uyghur Region enforcements

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) is a signed legislation in the United States aimed at addressing the issue of forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. This bill would require companies to disclose information about their supply chains to ensure that their products are not made using forced labor.

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Furthermore, it establishes a rebuttable presumption that the importation of any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, or produced by certain entities, is prohibited by Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and that such goods, wares, articles, and merchandise are not entitled to entry to the United States. The presumption applies unless the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines that the importer of record has complied with specified conditions and, by clear and convincing evidence, that the goods, wares, articles, or merchandise were not produced using forced labor.

Products / goods impacted

Some of the products or goods that are subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act include:

1. Textiles and apparel: The XUAR are major producers of textiles and apparel products, and many companies in the region have been accused of using forced labor.
2. Electronics: The XUAR is home to a number of electronics factories, including those producing components for smartphones and other devices.
3. Solar panels: The XUAR is a major producer of polysilicon, a key component in solar panels.
4. Food products: The XUAR is a major producer of tomatoes and other perishables, which are used in a variety of food products.
5. Industrial materials: The XUAR is a major producer of steel and other industrial materials.

It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive, and any product or good that is found to be produced with forced labor in the XUAR could be subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

Informational dashboard

CBP has released operational guidance for importers (importer guidance) as well as FAQs on strategy and enforcement.

Lastly, a new dashboard released on March 14, 2023 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers interesting insights on the agency’s enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to date. The statistics provided are shipments subjected to UFLPA reviews or enforcement actions. Charts are fully interactive and produce metrics based on the user’s selections.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please reach out to your local DSV representative.