Suozzi Applauds Crackdown on Chinese Communist Party’s Human Rights Abuses

Washington, DC – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the placement of five additional Chinese companies on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, raising the total number of restricted entities to 73. 

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) applauds DHS for enforcing this bipartisan legislation that he cosponsored and helped pass in 2021, which seeks to crack down on the ongoing genocide and severe human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minority groups by the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). 

The UFLPA mandates that all goods produced, in whole or in part, in the XUAR are prohibited from importation into the United States unless Customs and Border Control (CBP) determines, with “clear and convincing” evidence, that forced labor was not used at any stage of its production. 

Congressman Suozzi said, “While the Chinese government falsely claims that atrocities against Uyghurs are for ‘counterterrorism’ or ‘poverty alleviation,’ clear evidence, as confirmed by the United Nations in 2022, shows that this program is a systemic effort to erase the Uyghur people and culture through forced labor, sexual violence, torture, forced sterilization, and abortion, and attacks on religious beliefs. This bipartisan legislation holds them accountable and reaffirms our nation’s commitment to protecting human rights and ethical trade practices worldwide.” 

The following five companies were recently added to the UFLPA Entity List, bringing the list to 73 restricted companies: 

• Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd.        

• Kashgar Construction Engineering (Group) Co., Ltd.      

• Century Sunshine Group Holdings, Ltd.        

• Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings, Ltd.     

• Xinjiang Tengxiang Magnesium Products Co., Ltd.  

“This is an important step,” said Suozzi. “Legislation can only be as strong as its enforcement—I thank the team at DHS for once again demonstrating that the UFLPA has teeth. Likewise, we will continue to do everything we can here in Congress to meet the Chinese Communist Party’s atrocities with decisive action.” 

In the DHS press release announcing this action, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said, “As DHS identifies more entities across different sectors that use or facilitate forced labor, we act to keep their tainted goods out of our nation’s supply chains. Today's announcement strengthens our enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act…We will continue to implement this law with full force in our efforts to fight the exploitation and abuse of the Uyghur people and other persecuted groups and protect a free and fair market.” 

Since taking office in 2017, Suozzi has been an outspoken advocate for the Uyghur people in China and a strong opponent of the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity and blatant disregard for international law. Through co-chairing the Congressional Uyghur Caucus and his service on the Committee on Homeland Security, he will maintain focus on this issue until the Uyghur genocide is thwarted. 

“The important work of the Uyghur Caucus continues, and I won’t rest until we reauthorize, strengthen, and expand upon the UFLPA,” Suozzi said. 

The full press release from DHS can be seen here.