On May 16, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is adding twenty-six entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”) Entity List, the consolidated register of four lists required by section 2(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the UFLPA. The UFLPA and its Entity List are explained in more detail in a prior post. DHS added these latest entities to section 2(d)(2)(B)(v) of the Entity List, which identifies facilities and entities that source material from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (“XUAR”) or from persons working with the government of Xinjiang or the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for purposes of the “poverty alleviation” program, or the “pairing-assistance” program, or any other government labor scheme that uses forced labor. The update significantly expands the UFLPA Entity List, which now includes 65 entities in total. Inclusion in the list triggers a rebuttable presumption that the listed entities’ goods were made with forced labor and are prohibited from import into the United States.
Husch Blackwell continues to monitor developments relating to the UFLPA. In the meantime, for guidance or questions relating to U.S. customs and trade laws, companies can contact Husch Blackwell’s International Trade and Supply Chain team.