US expands Uyghur forced labor import ban

The United States, under the Trump administration, expanded the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List by adding 43 Chinese companies, including Hunan Aihua Group, a major capacitor manufacturer, and Chacha Food Co. This action, the largest single addition since the Act's inception in December 2021, brings the total to 187 entities. The U.S. alleges these companies use forced labor in China — Xinjiang, a claim China denies. In response, China's Ministry of Commerce imposed countermeasures against six U.S. entities, including Applied DNA Sciences and the Responsible Business Alliance, prohibiting Chinese organizations from transactions with them. China's Commerce Ministry also rejected the U.S. accusations as baseless and harmful to global supply chains.