US Law Against Uyghur Forced Labour Takes Effect, Ban On Imports From China's Xinjiang

The bill, called the Uyghurs Forced labour Prevention Act, is the latest effort by the US to punish China for its alleged mistreatment of millions of Uyghurs.

New Delhi: To block the import of goods linked to forced labour in China, Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) took effect on Tuesday in the United States. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, declared in a statement, "Starting today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin to implement the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s provisions to prohibit imports made by forced labor into the United States of products made in Xinjiang."

US President Joe Biden signed a bill in December that aims to punish China for human rights abuses against ethnic and religious minorities, including Uyghurs, in China's Xinjiang region.

"The State Department is committed to working with Congress and our interagency partners to continue combating forced labour in Xinjiang and strengthen international coordination against this egregious violation of human rights. Addressing forced labour and other human rights abuses in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and around the world is a priority for President Biden and this Administration," said Blinken.

The bill, called the Uyghurs Forced labour Prevention Act, is the latest effort by the US to punish China for its alleged mistreatment of millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. The report said the US accused China of committing genocide against Uighurs.

However, China's ruling Communist Party has vehemently denied all reports related to human rights violations and genocide in Xinjiang. 

Wang Wenbin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the whole issue of "forced labour in Xinjiang" is a huge lie concocted by anti-China forces to smear China.