UNITED STATES—The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a tightened enforcement plan to curb human rights abuses in global supply chains. Working with the Department of Homeland and other agencies, the initiative strengthens oversight under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). (Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 8/16/2025 press release)
The plan expands enforcement by requiring importers to prove their supply chains are free of forced labor, or risk losing access to the American market. Customs officers will step up inspections at ports, and regulators have broadened the “high-risk” list to cover sectors beyond cotton, tomatoes, and solar materials. (Source: DOL release)
The effort also establishes new interagency data-sharing tools and calls for increased partnerships with industry watchdogs and labor groups to help identify goods tainted by forced labor. The UFLPA, enacted in 2021, presumes that all goods made in Xinjiang are tied to forced labor unless companies can provide clear proof otherwise. Since its passage, U.S. authorities have detained thousands of shipments, ranging from cotton and tomatoes to solar panel components. (Source: UFLPA; DOL press release)
Critics argue that enforcement has not kept up with the scale of the problem. The new strategy, advocates say, could provide the most aggressive tools yet to curb the influx of forced-labor goods. Labor rights groups welcomed the move, saying it represents a “wake-up call” to companies still sourcing materials from regions tied to human rights abuses. Business groups, however, warned that expanded enforcement may slow imports and increase costs for U.S. consumers. (Source: statements from advocacy and business groups reported in DOL release)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States imported more than $500 billion in goods from China in 2023, making it China’s largest single-country export market at roughly 15% of total exports. Cutting this access could significantly affect Chinese producers and force U.S. companies to rethink supply chains built on inexpensive Chinese inputs. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau trade data, 2023)
Other high-risk products cited in Department of Homeland Security reports include aluminum, steel, lithium, PVC plastics, seafood, copper, and red dates. These industries represent billions in U.S. imports spanning renewable energy, apparel, and consumer goods. (Source: DHS forced labor risk reports, 2023–2024)
Analysts say some goods may shift to Europe or Asia, but rerouting is slow and costly. More importantly, companies tied to forced labor risk reputational damage and investor pressure, making it harder for such products to quietly find new markets. (Source: trade policy experts, multiple news outlets)
