BEIJING — On Saturday, August 1, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce denied the US accusations that Chinese companies use forced labour, particularly in the Xinjiang region. The Ministry stated that the US addition of Chinese companies to a list alleging forced labour has no factual basis and disrupts global supply chain stability.

China opposes forced labour and described Xinjiang as stable, prosperous, and free of any forced labour, countering US claims of human rights abuses in the region. The Ministry accused the US of using domestic laws to impose unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies, labeling these actions as economic coercion that harm the companies' legitimate rights.

In its statement, China urged the US to stop "attacking and smearing" Xinjiang and to end unfair pressure on Chinese companies, warning that Beijing will take measures to protect their rights.

The US had on Friday, July 31, 2026, banned imports from 43 additional Chinese companies over alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur and other minority groups. These companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts imports tied to alleged human rights abuses and ongoing genocide in Xinjiang.

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