US President Joe biden has signed a bill into law banning goods from the Xinjiang region unless companies can prove they aren't made with forced labour of the Uyghur minority, reports Bloomberg.
The bill passed with unanimous backing in both the House and Senate earlier this month, showcasing how Republicans and Democrats are largely aligned on China policy despite Washington's deep partisan divisions on most major issues.
the measure is motivated by concern about the oppression of Uyghur Muslims in a region that holds a major place in global supply chains. Xinjiang is a source for cotton used in clothing and is a key location for producing polysilicon used in solar panels, which in turn are seen as crucial in the global shift away from fossil fuels.
the new law could pose a significant challenge for American and other firms that source items from Xinjiang for products used in the US.
Even before President Biden signed the bill, Intel Corp found itself embroiled in controversy after the chipmaker asked suppliers not to use any labour or products sourced from Xinjiang and then apologised for the move.
The bill requires the US Department of Homeland Security to create a list of entities that collaborate with the Chinese government in the repression of the Uyghurs, a predominately Muslim ethnic minority. It also contains a 'rebuttable presumption' that assumes all goods from the region were made with forced labour unless the commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection gives an exception.
Chinese officials deny that forced labour is used in Xinjiang and call the legislation interference in the nation's domestic affairs - a line reiterated recently by Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
'By fabricating lies and making troubles with such issues, some US politicians are seeking to contain China,' he said. 'Their vile scheme will never succeed.'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress will continue to condemn and confront the Chinese government's human rights abuses in Xinjiang, along with locations 'from Hong Kong to Tibet to the mainland.'
SeaNews Turkey
The bill passed with unanimous backing in both the House and Senate earlier this month, showcasing how Republicans and Democrats are largely aligned on China policy despite Washington's deep partisan divisions on most major issues.
the measure is motivated by concern about the oppression of Uyghur Muslims in a region that holds a major place in global supply chains. Xinjiang is a source for cotton used in clothing and is a key location for producing polysilicon used in solar panels, which in turn are seen as crucial in the global shift away from fossil fuels.
the new law could pose a significant challenge for American and other firms that source items from Xinjiang for products used in the US.
Even before President Biden signed the bill, Intel Corp found itself embroiled in controversy after the chipmaker asked suppliers not to use any labour or products sourced from Xinjiang and then apologised for the move.
The bill requires the US Department of Homeland Security to create a list of entities that collaborate with the Chinese government in the repression of the Uyghurs, a predominately Muslim ethnic minority. It also contains a 'rebuttable presumption' that assumes all goods from the region were made with forced labour unless the commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection gives an exception.
Chinese officials deny that forced labour is used in Xinjiang and call the legislation interference in the nation's domestic affairs - a line reiterated recently by Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
'By fabricating lies and making troubles with such issues, some US politicians are seeking to contain China,' he said. 'Their vile scheme will never succeed.'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress will continue to condemn and confront the Chinese government's human rights abuses in Xinjiang, along with locations 'from Hong Kong to Tibet to the mainland.'
SeaNews Turkey