On Friday, July 31, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it has blocked 43 Chinese companies from importing products into the United States due to allegations of unethical labor practices, specifically the use of "slave labor" in China. This marks the largest single-day enforcement action against Chinese forced labor goods in recorded history.

The companies affected operate in sectors including aluminum, apparel, copper, cotton, and tomatoes. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, which works to identify goods made with unethical labor, helped identify this group of companies.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the companies were blocked because they stand accused of using forced labor. Rob Law, DHS Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, & Plans and Chair of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, emphasized the Trump Administration's ongoing commitment to removing forced labor from U.S. supply chains and holding foreign companies accountable for exploitation.

Law also highlighted that the blocking of these companies is a matter of national security, noting the importance of keeping illicit goods out of the market to protect American businesses. The expansion of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, which now includes 187 entities, is a key tool DHS uses to ensure economic and national security.

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