US bans new type of goods from China over allegations of forced labour

The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that it would ban the import of goods from a Chinese steel manufacturer and a Chinese maker of artificial sweetener, accusing both of being involved in the use of forced labour from China's far-west region of Xinjiang.

The action broadens the scope of the US effort to counter products from entering the country that the government says are tied to human rights abuses.

The additions to the entity list under the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act marks the first time a China-based steel company or aspartame sweetener business have been targeted by US law enforcement, DHS said.

Today's actions reaffirm our commitment to eliminating forced labour from US supply chains and upholding our values of human rights for all, said Robert Silvers, undersecretary of Homeland Security for policy. No sector is off-limits. We will continue to identify entities across industries and hold accountable those who seek to profit from exploitation and