According to Reuters, the United States added 43 Chinese companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List. The list creates a presumption that goods made wholly or partly by listed entities are made with forced labour and cannot be imported into the United States unless importers provide evidence to the contrary.
The additions increased the number of listed entities from 144 to 187. They include companies in supply chains for electronics, food, metals, electric-vehicle batteries, and energy-storage batteries.
The listed companies include SDIC Xinjiang Lithium Industry and its parent, SDIC Xinjiang Luobupo Potash. The US notice said the two companies source lithium and potassium from brine at Xinjiang’s Lop Nur Salt Lake. Xinjiang Tianhongji Technology was also listed; the notice said it uses petroleum coke, anthracite, and asphalt sourced from Xinjiang to make materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.
Hunan Aihua Group, a producer of aluminium electrolytic capacitors, was listed over its sourcing of materials including chemical foil from a production base in Xinjiang. The company’s capacitors are used in consumer electronics, industrial equipment, vehicles, and renewable-energy systems.
Chacha Food was included on the list. The US notice said the snack-food producer sources agricultural products from Xinjiang and exports products including nuts and roasted seeds to nearly 50 countries and regions.
The additions also cover TBEA Co, which produces transformers, transmission equipment, aluminium products, and high-purity polysilicon. The notice said TBEA sources aluminium and aluminium-alloy products from Xinjiang. Its subsidiary Xinjiang Tianchi Energy was listed for sourcing coal from the region.
Tianshan Aluminum Group and seven affiliates were added to the list. Shandong Gold Mining and units including Shandong Gold Smelting were also added. The US notice said Shandong Gold sources gold from Xinjiang, and that one of its subsidiaries owns and operates the region’s largest single gold mine.