The US
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says that as a result of its focus on
enforcement in apparel and cotton products, importers have shifted supply
chains from the People’s Republic of China to mitigate their risk.
More than 95% of US companies
have actively enhanced their supply chain due diligence efforts with the use of
technology and verification tools, the DHS says adding that with its new Textile
Enforcement Plan, DHS is expanding its enforcement efforts to address the
risk of XUAR-sourced cotton in de minimis shipments and to protect the textile
and apparel industries’ investments in clean Free Trade agreement supply
chains.
The DHS further revealed Customs and Border
Police (CBP) has reviewed more than 9,000 shipments valued at $3.4bn under the
Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) in the last two years as it
enhances efforts to stop goods made using forced labour from entering the US.
In its latest update, it said the ULFPA
Entity List now includes 68 entities, 48 of which were added in the last 13
months. The entities represent a large number of industry sectors,
including apparel and footwear and are located in the Xinjiang Uyghur
Autonomous Region and other provinces of China.
The DHS says the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) has
implemented an improved and streamlined process that builds on best practices
to support the expansion of the UFLPA Entity List, providing greater
transparency for the trade community.
“As a result of our enforcement efforts and
robust partnerships with stakeholders, the trade community has responded by
enhancing its due diligence programmes to ensure compliance. The growing demand
for compliant supply chains has impacted global sourcing strategies, resulting
in greater innovation, growth and diversification among trusted trading
partners, making our supply chains more resilient and sustainable,” it said.
DHS announced the following updates to the
UFLPA Strategy as it looks to further combat forced labour in global supply
chains:
Strong Enforcement by US Customs and
Border Protection ensures
that goods made in whole or in part with forced labour are prohibited from the
US market, holding companies that use or facilitate these human rights abuses
accountable.
Expansion of the UFLPA Entity List provides responsible businesses with
information to keep tainted goods from US supply chains. The FLETF has
implemented an improved and streamlined process that builds on best practices
to support the expansion of the UFLPA Entity List, providing greater
transparency for the trade community.
Designating New High Priority
Sectors for Enforcement allows
importers to focus due diligence on supply chains that intersect with these
sectors and empowers US agencies to consider additional enforcement actions.
Congress and the FLETF originally identified apparel, cotton and cotton
products, silica-based products including polysilicon and tomatoes and
downstream products as high-priority sectors for enforcement and continue to
designate them as high-priority sectors. With this year’s updates, the FLETF is
identifying new high-priority sectors — aluminium, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and
seafood.
Greater Collaboration with
Stakeholders strengthens
enforcement and supports compliance. One of the hallmarks of the UFLPA Strategy
is the recognition that stakeholders from the private sector, nongovernmental
organisations, and international partners all have an integral role in the “whole
of society” response to the challenge of forced labour goods in global supply
chains. DHS and the FLETF are actively engaging with like-minded international
partners, including Canada, the EU, Japan, and Mexico, as they develop their
own approaches and enforcement regimes to keep goods made with forced labour
from legitimate markets.
“Forced labour is a form of modern slavery,
and the Department of Homeland Security is committed to eradicating it from our
supply chains,” said secretary of homeland security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“The updated Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Strategy and new high-priority
sectors for enforcement reflect the evolving and expanding scope of those who
seek to circumvent the law and profit off the exploitation of abused people.
Our department will continue to work closely with our partners in government, and
with stakeholders across industry and civil society, to lead US efforts to end
forced labour by enforcing customs laws, supporting economic fairness, and
safeguarding the human rights of all.”
Robert Silvers, under secretary for policy
and chair of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, added: “We are committed
to expanding our enforcement of the UFLPA to keep goods made with forced labour
out of US markets. This will happen through designation of more companies to
the UFLPA Entity List, enforcement by CBP at our ports, focus on additional
industry sectors, and continued engagement with industry and civil society.”
By Just Style