China’s Ministry of Commerce has strongly criticised the US decision to add 43 Chinese companies to an import blacklist over alleged links to forced labour involving Uyghurs.
Beijing accused Washington of using allegations of forced labour as a justification for imposing unilateral economic measures and said it would take steps to protect Chinese businesses.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said the new designations “lacked a factual basis” and accused the US of using human rights concerns as a pretext for measures imposed under American domestic law, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
The ministry said the restrictions could undermine the legitimate interests of Chinese companies and disrupt international supply chains.
The spokesperson also questioned the timing of the decision, noting that the measures were announced just one day after Chinese and US trade officials held what Beijing described as “candid and constructive” discussions aimed at maintaining stable economic relations between the two countries.
China said it opposes forced labour but continues to reject allegations of widespread abuses in Xinjiang, urging Washington to stop what it described as the politicisation of human rights issues.
US expands forced labour entity list
The US added 43 Chinese companies to its Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List on Friday.
The move represents the first expansion of the list under the Trump administration and the largest single addition since the legislation came into effect in December 2021.
The designations effectively prevent goods linked to the listed entities from entering the US market unless importers can provide clear and convincing evidence that their supply chains do not involve forced labour.
The measures focus on Xinjiang, a region in north-western China that is home to more than 10 million Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.
Uyghur groups and international organisations have accused Chinese authorities of discrimination and serious human rights violations in the region, including restrictions affecting religious, cultural and economic life.
Beijing has repeatedly rejected such allegations and accused Washington of interfering in China’s internal affairs.
The latest measures add another point of tension between the two countries as Beijing and Washington attempt to maintain dialogue over trade and broader economic relations.
