U.S. Expands Ban on Goods Tied to Forced Labor, Adding 43 Companies to Entity List

Washington D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), acting on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), has announced a significant expansion of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, adding 43 new companies. This action, effective July 31, 2026, will prohibit goods produced by these entities from entering the United States. This marks the largest single expansion of the list, bringing the total number of listed entities to 187, a 30% increase.

The UFLPA establishes a rebuttable presumption that any goods manufactured by entities on this list are produced with forced labor and are therefore inadmissible into the U.S. The newly added companies have been identified for their involvement in sourcing materials from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang, the XUAR) or for cooperating with the Xinjiang government in recruiting, transporting, or harboring Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or other persecuted groups out of the region. The sectors targeted by this expansion include critical industries such as aluminum, apparel, copper, cotton, and tomatoes and their downstream products.

This broadened enforcement action by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aims to prevent goods made with forced labor from reaching American markets, thereby protecting American workers and businesses from unfair competition. Since the implementation of the UFLPA, CBP has already intercepted over 24,300 shipments valued at nearly $1 billion that were found to be in violation of the act.

The DHS and FLETF have reiterated their commitment to eradicating forced labor from U.S. supply chains. The addition of these companies is intended to hold foreign businesses accountable for exploitative practices and to foster a more equitable marketplace for American manufacturers and workers. This initiative is also viewed as a measure to bolster both economic and national security by excluding illicit goods.

Further underscoring the administration’s dedication to this issue, the DHS and Department of Justice (DOJ) have collaborated through the Trade Fraud Task Force. This joint effort has already achieved over $1 billion in penalties, recoveries, and charged losses. The Trade Fraud Task Force is prioritizing enforcement against forced labor as a prevalent form of trade fraud, with DHS Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security indicating that importers attempting to circumvent these measures or knowingly import goods produced with forced labor will face full legal prosecution.

The FLETF has also announced minor technical updates to the official names of two previously listed entities. These ongoing efforts align with the administration’s strategy to combat the importation of goods tainted by human suffering and to strengthen the integrity of U.S. supply chains. The DHS and FLETF are actively collaborating with industry stakeholders, non-profit organizations, and international partners to enhance enforcement capabilities and promote compliance with UFLPA regulations.

The revised UFLPA Entity List will be officially published as an appendix to a Federal Register notice on July 31, 2026. More information regarding the DHS’s implementation and enforcement of the UFLPA can be found on the DHS website at www.dhs.gov/uflpa.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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