Huafu fashion is among 37 Chinese companies that the US has banned imports of due to forced labor by Uyghurs.

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that the United States had banned imports of 37 companies from China over allegations of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. These companies are in the textile, mining, and solar industries.

Huafu Fashion Co. is one of the largest textile companies in the world, along with 25 of its subsidiaries. The U.S. accuses them of forced labor practices in China's Cotton Industry.

The companies have been added to the Uyghur Forcible Labor Prevention Act Entity list, which restricts imports of goods that are linked to what the U.S. calls China's ongoing human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the ongoing genocide.

U.S. officials claim that Chinese authorities have set up internment camps for Uyghurs, as well as other religious and ethnic minorities in China's western Xinjiang Region. Beijing denies any abuses.

According to the U.S., the newly listed companies include Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., which produces solar-energy products using polysilicon produced in Xinjiang. Hongyuan Green Energy Co., sources polysilicon for the region.

Mining companies include Zijin Mining Group Co. and its three subsidiaries. They source and extract metals such as zinc, copper, and others from the area.

Since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act became law in December 2020, the number of companies listed has increased to 144.

No immediate comment could be obtained from the companies.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not responded to an immediate request for comment. Reporting by Karen Freifeld, Susan Heavey and Rod Nickel; Editing by Chizu Nimiyama and Franklin Paul

(source: Reuters)