US halts imports from China's Uighur region for forced labour

US on Monday blocked imports from four companies and a manufacturing facility in rthwestern China suspected of using forced labour from people detained as part of a sweeping crackdown on ethnic mirities in region. Companies that ship clothing and or cotton goods, computer parts and hair products from Xinjiang region were named in order issued by US Customs and Border Protection. manufacturing facility is a center where Uighurs and or mirities have been detained and compelled to produce goods for export to US and elsewhere.

“Forced labour is an atrocious human rights abuse that is completely against values that we all share," acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan said as he anunced orders halting imports in a call with reporters.

US is considering a broer ban on cotton and textiles and tomatoes from Xinjiang but new orders are a more limited step. Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of Department of Homeland Security, said Trump ministration is still studying more sweeping measure. facility was identified as Lop County . 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center in Xinjiang, where CBP says it has information that “reasonably indicates” use of prison labor to make hair products and or goods.

In its orders, CBP named Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co, Ltd. and Baoding LYSZD Tre and Business Co., Ltd., which make clothing in Xinjiang. It also halted shipments from Junggar Cotton and Linen Co, and Hefei Bitland Information Techlogy Co, which it says uses prison and forced labor to make computer parts. CBP did t identify any US companies that do business with named entities.

Chinese authorities have detained more than a million people from mostly Muslim ethnic groups that include Uighurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in a vast network of detention centers as part of an assimilation campaign. China has denied widespre and consistent reports of abuse and mistreatment of Uighurs and or mirities, defending campaign as an effort to crackdown on extremism and claiming detention camps are for vocational and Chinese langu training.