US bans import of 5 Chinese goods produced using "forced labour"

September 15, 2020 10:55

The US has banned the import of five goods from China, including computer-parts, cotton and hair products, alleging that they are produced in forced labour camps in the restive Muslim-majority Xinjiang province. The US-China relations have deteriorated after the Covid-19 outbreak, with President Donald Trump squarely blaming Beijing for allowing the disease to spread across the world.

The relations have further worsened over allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, autonomy of Hong Kong, Tibet, and technology theft. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said the products subject to the import ban are cotton, apparel, computer parts, and hair products.

The fifth ban is on all products made with labour from the Lop County Number 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center in Xinjiang. These goods are produced with state-sponsored forced labour in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where the Chinese government is engaged in systemic human rights abuses against the Uyghur people and other ethnic and religious minorities, the DHS statement said.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had earlier issued five Withhold Release Orders (WRO) to uphold the ban. The WROs prevent goods from being imported into the US when there are accusations of forced labour.

"The Trump Administration has led the world in calling attention to the Chinese Communist Party's (CPC) egregious human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and we've taken action to back up our rhetoric," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

"These actions send a clear message to the PRC (People's Republic of China) that it is time to end its practice of state-sponsored forced labour and to respect the human rights of all people," he said. -- PTI

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