Seafood, Aluminum and Footwear Entities Added to Forced Labor List

Trade Update • June 12, 2024

he U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 3 more entities based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This action, effective from June 12, 2024, aims to restrict seafood, aluminum, and footwear goods produced by these companies from entering the United States, enhancing efforts to prevent forced labor in supply chains.

Entities Added

The entities being added to the UFLPA Entity List include Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd. (also known as Dongguan Oasis Shoe Industry Co., Ltd.; Dongguan Luzhou Shoes Co., Ltd.; and Dongguan Lvzhou Shoes Co., Ltd.), Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd. (also known as Rizhao Meijia Group), and Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd.

Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd. (also known as Rizhao Meijia Group), is a company based in Shandong Province, China, that processes, sells, and exports frozen seafood products, vegetables, quick-frozen convenience food, and other aquatic foods. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including publicly available information, indicates that Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd. participated in XUAR government-sponsored labor transfer programs to transfer and receive individuals from persecuted groups, including Uyghurs, out of the XUAR for labor at its factory in Shandong.

“Shrimp supply chains have a disturbing pattern of profiting off of the globe’s most vulnerable populations. Argentinian red shrimp packed by Uyghurs in Chinese seafood processing plants should not be competing with wholesome products in American grocery stores,” said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force’s initiative to counter forced labor in seafood supply chains sends a strong message to U.S. seafood importers that chasing lower costs and higher margins cannot replace ethical and legal obligations.”

Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd. (also known as Dongguan Oasis Shoe Industry Co., Ltd.; Dongguan Luzhou Shoes Co., Ltd.; and Dongguan Lvzhou Shoes Co., Ltd.) is an entity headquartered in Guangdong Province, China, that produces and manufactures shoes and shoe material products. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including publicly available information, indicates that Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd. cooperated with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) to recruit, transfer, and receive individuals from persecuted groups, including Uyghurs, out of the XUAR for labor at its factory in Guangdong.

Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd. is a company located in the XUAR that produces electrolytic aluminum, graphite carbon, and prebaked anodes. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including publicly available information, indicates that Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd. participated in a XUAR government-sponsored labor transfer program and worked with XUAR government entities to cooperate with the XUAR government to recruit, transfer, and receive individuals from persecuted groups, including Uyghurs, out of the XUAR.

Statements from Officials

“Today’s action, which includes entities from within and outside Xinjiang, and from three different industry sectors—footwear, seafood, and aluminum—reaffirms our commitment to robust enforcement of the UFLPA,” said DHS Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers, who serves as Chair of the FLETF. “We have shown again through today’s enforcement actions that the United States is taking concrete steps to keep goods made with forced labor out of U.S. supply chains. It is imperative for companies to conduct due diligence and know where their products are coming from. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will continue to designate entities that meet the UFLPA’s criteria for inclusion on the Entity List, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue its vigilant enforcement at our ports.”

Due Diligence for Importers

U.S. importers now have more information to conduct due diligence and examine their supply chains for forced labor risks. The inclusion of these entities on the UFLPA Entity List helps companies ensure compliance with the UFLPA and avoid purchasing cotton linked to forced labor. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) will continue to monitor and consider future designations to the UFLPA Entity List as part of broader forced labor enforcement efforts. This ongoing vigilance supports the U.S. commitment to eliminating forced labor and holding accountable those who exploit vulnerable populations.

The UFLPA was signed into law in December 2021 to combat forced labor in U.S. supply chains, particularly targeting the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). It mandates that goods from the XUAR or produced by listed entities are presumed to be made with forced labor unless proven otherwise. Enforcement began in June 2022, with over 8,000 shipments reviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) since then.

For more information on the FLETF and the UFLPA, visit DHS UFLPA.

For questions or concerns about if your products are affected please contact us.