The U.S. Department of State, along with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a business advisory to caution businesses about the risks of supply chain links to entities that engage in human rights abuses, including forced labor, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) and elsewhere in China.
The People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) government continues to carry out a campaign of repression in Xinjiang, targeting Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups.
The advisory highlights the risks for businesses with supply chain links to entities complicit in forced labor and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang and throughout China. The three primary types of supply chain exposure to entities engaged in human rights abuses discussed in this advisory are:
- Assisting in developing surveillance tools for the P.R.C. government in Xinjiang;
- Relying on labor or goods sourced in Xinjiang, or from factories elsewhere in China implicated in the forced labor of individuals from Xinjiang in their supply chains, given the prevalence of forced labor and other labor abuses in the region; and
- Aiding in the construction of internment facilities used to detain Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minority groups, and/or in the construction of manufacturing facilities that are in close proximity to camps operated by businesses accepting subsidies from the P.R.C. government to subject minority groups to forced labor.
Businesses with potential exposure in their supply chain to entities that engage in human rights abuses in Xinjiang or to facilities outside Xinjiang that use forced labor from Xinjiang in the manufacture of goods intended for domestic and international distribution should be aware of the reputational, economic, and legal risks of involvement with such entities.
In order to mitigate reputational and other risks, businesses should apply appropriate industry due diligence policies and procedures.
Translations: Arabic (PDF) [1 MB] | French (PDF) [889 KB] | Russian (PDF) [1 MB]
remarks
Letter from Under Secretary of State Keith Krach to Business Leaders on Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
Press Statement
Issuance of the Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
Fact Sheet
Issuance of Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
Guidance
U.S. Department of State Guidance on Implementing the “UN Guiding Principles” for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities
This guidance is a first-of-its-kind tool intended to provide practical and accessible human rights guidance to U.S. businesses seeking to prevent their products or services with surveillance capabilities from being misused by government end-users to commit human rights abuses.
Resources
Department of State China Human Rights Reports
The Department of State’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international documents. The reports can include specific information on foreign government agencies, including Chinese government agencies.
Department of State China Trafficking in Persons Report
The Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report grades countries, including China, on a four-tier scale in their efforts to meet the TVPA’s minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking and provides content specific to forced labor and sex trafficking in each country.
Department of Labor Findings on Worst Forms of Child Labor Report
The Department of Labor’s annual Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor report focuses on the efforts of certain U.S. trade beneficiary countries and territories, excluding China, to eliminate the worst forms of child labor through legislation, enforcement mechanisms, policies, and social programs.
Department of Labor List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor Report
The Department of Labor maintains a list of goods and their source countries, including China, for which it has reason to believe are produced by child labor or forced labor in violation of international standards, as required under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and subsequent reauthorizations. Artificial Flowers, Christmas Decorations, Coal, Footwear, Garments, and Nails are included for forced labor of adults; Textiles are included for child labor; and Bricks, Cotton, Electronics, Fireworks, and Toys are included for both forced labor of adults and child labor.
Department of Labor List of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor Report
The Department of Labor maintains a list of products and their source countries, including China, which it has a reasonable basis to believe are produced by forced or indentured child labor, pursuant to Executive Order 13126 . This List is intended to ensure that U.S. federal agencies and contracted parties do not procure goods made by forced or indentured child labor. Bricks, Cotton, Electronics, and Toys feature on this list currently.
Congressional-Executive Commission on China: Annual Report
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) report published March 2019 highlights multiple concerning human rights issues, including the mass, arbitrary internment of Uyghur and other Muslim ethnic minorities.
Responsible Sourcing Tool
The Responsible Sourcing Tool, developed by the State Department and Verité, assists U.S. federal contractors, procurement officials, and companies to better identify, prevent, and address the risks of human trafficking in their global supply chains.
Forced Labor Importer Due Diligence Fact Sheet
U.S. CBP’s fact sheet sets out resources to assist companies with strengthening their policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of child and forced labor in their global supply chains.
Withhold Release Orders and Findings
U.S. CBP publishes WROs issued by the Commissioner and Findings in the Federal Register. CBP does not generally publicize specific detentions, re-exportations, exclusions, or seizures of the subject merchandise that may have resulted from the WROs or findings.
Fact Sheet: Forced Labor Procedures
U.S. CBP’s fact sheet provides information on resources related to forced labor enforcement authorities and enforcement action.
Forced Labor Detained Shipments Fact Sheet
U.S. CBP’s fact sheet provides information for companies on the procedures for when goods suspected to be produced with forced labor are detained.
U.S. ICE Forced Labor Program Fact Sheet
U.S. ICE HSI’s fact sheet provides information on the Forced Labor Program that coordinates criminal investigations into allegations of forced labor (including forced child labor) resulting in the manufacturing or production of goods overseas imported into the United States.