The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 26 textile companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. Effective May 17, 2024, goods produced by the named companies will be restricted from entering the U.S.

The DHS said in a May 16 statement that, by focusing on cotton manufacturers based outside of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) that source cotton from the XUAR, their designation will increase transparency and ensure responsible companies can conduct due diligence on their supply chains to ensure they do not include goods made with forced labor.

“The Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate forced labor in our nation’s supply chains,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We will continue to execute on our textile enforcement strategy and hold the PRC accountable for their exploitation and abuse of the Uyghur people.”

Since the UFLPA was signed into law in December 2021, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), chaired by the DHS, has added 65 entities to the UFLPA Entity List. Industries affected include apparel, agriculture, polysilicon, plastics, chemicals, batteries, household appliances, electronics, and food additives sectors.