The US Department of Homeland Security has declared a step-up in their investigations into textile imports, due to rising concerns regarding forced labour within China’s apparel industry. The move aligns with increasing global unease over the prevalence of forced labour in the creation of many internationally distributed goods, a subject that has been notably highlighted in recent times in regards to the Xinjiang region of China. According to reports, this is a significant shift in focus for the Department.
As part of this renewed scrutiny, the Department of Homeland Security is planning to expand its list of entities that are reportedly making use of forced labour from Xinjiang. In tandem with this, there will be an increase in package inspections carried out by Customs and Border Protection. The inspections are aimed at uncovering violations of not only the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, but also other relevant laws. This is seen as a new stride to bolster the effectiveness of the Uyghur labour law which has been in effect for two years but has faced criticism for its perceived lack of enforcement.
These developments are of notable importance to legal professionals vested in international trade and human rights law, as they signal a notable shift in the US government’s approach to enforcing laws related to forced labour and human rights violations in international supply chains.
It is yet unknown how these increased efforts will impact the import industry, and specifically the corporations who make use of textiles sourced from China. However, the clear message being sent out is that the US is taking the matter of forced labour in supply chains seriously. Whether the potential surge in banned entities will also serve as a deterrent to others remains to be seen.