DHS adds 43 firms to Uyghur forced-labor blacklist, boosting entity list to 187

In a Thursday briefing, the Department of Homeland Security revealed the largest expansion yet of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, adding 43 Chinese companies and updating two existing entries to total 187 entities. The update represents about a 30% rise in the blacklist and targets firms accused of benefiting from forced labor in Xinjiang. Beginning Friday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will treat shipments from these companies as presumptively tainted by forced labor, barring entry unless importers can rebut the claim.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized that the action shields U.S. workers from foreign firms that exploit slave labor and undercut American businesses. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, led by Rob Law, highlighted the broader effort to cleanse supply chains, while Assistant Secretary Aris Kourkoumelis warned that violators will face full legal prosecution. The affected companies operate in industries including aluminum, apparel, copper, cotton, and tomatoes, reflecting the administration’s focus on high-risk sectors.