U.S. Senate Passes Bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

The US Senate has passed a new law effectively banning the import of products from China’s Xinjiang region. Latest law passed Economic sanctions imposed by the United States against China over allegations of genocide and its persecution of Uighur Muslims and other minorities.

Under the new law, called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, all products allegedly made with forced labor are prohibited from entering the country. Some products can still enter the country but only if they are first certified by US authorities.

The new law was passed by the Senate by a unanimous vote. The bipartisan legislation still needs to pass the House of Representatives before it can be sent to US President Joe Biden at the White House to be signed into law.

Officials have yet to announce when the legislation will be presented to the House of Representatives. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, along with Democrat Jeff Merkley, submitted the initial proposal.

Rubio said the law should be a clear message to China that the US will not “turn a blind eye to the CCP’s continued crimes against humanity.” Merkley said that American companies should not be allowed to profit from human rights violations and that consumers should not be unwittingly forced to buy products made from slave labor.

Democratic and Republican officials said they expect the legislation to receive strong support in the House. Experts say the House is likely to vote unanimously in favor of the measure.

Some products with reasonable proof of forced labor are still listed, but the ultimate burden of proof will be on the importers. Experts say the law will expand when it comes to imposing restrictions on products from Xinjiang, including existing bans on cotton, tomatoes and solar products produced by Xinjiang. .

Earlier in the week, the Biden administration issued a business advisory warning to American companies about them continuing to do business and invest in the Xinjiang region. Officials said companies found guilty of doing business in the region could face legal consequences for violating US law.

© 2021 Business Times Copyright Registered. Do not copy without permission.