The United States banned imports from 43 additional firms on Friday due to alleged violations of the human rights of Uyghurs and other minority groups in China. The entities against whom action has been taken includes Hunan Aihua Group, one of China's biggest manufacturers of capacitors.
The businesses were placed on the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act Entity List, which prohibits the import of products linked to what the United States has identified as China's ongoing genocide in Xinjiang and violations of human rights, reported Reuters.
Companies in the pharmaceutical, metals, cotton, culinary, and lithium production industries are among the most recent entrants.
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The fresh move increases the number of firms on the list from 144 to 187 and represents the first time companies have been added during the Trump administration.
Businesses on the list are thought to use forced labour in their mining, production, or manufacturing processes.
Congressman John Moolenaar, chair of the US House of Representatives Select Committee on China, said in a statement, "Today's action by the Trump administration strengthens America's economy against products made with slave labour and sends a message to the Chinese Communist Party that we will not look the other way on its genocide and human rights abuses."
As per the Department of Homeland Security's filing in the US Federal Register, Hunan Aihua Group was added to the list as the US believes the company receives chemical foil and other materials from Xinjiang.
The update confirmed the inclusion of Chacha Food Co.—a brand that ships its products to roughly 50 countries and territories—alongside several other firms. Also named on the list were Henan Guorong Electronic Technology Co., Tefeng Pharmaceutical Co., Tianshan Aluminium Group, and Xinjiang Tianhongji Technology Co.
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