A new bill is looking to put an end to imported goods from China amid allegations of forced labor.
On Wednesday morning, U.S. lawmakers announced new legislation requesting Donald Trump to look into claims of forced labor camps in Xinjiang. According to CNN, a U.S. government report found it was “nearly impossible” to confirm that global supply chains were clean of tainted goods.
The bill is a product from republicans and democrats, including Democratic Rep. James McGovern of Massachusetts and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Over the last few months, there have been concerns and speculations regarding the mass detention of nearly two million Muslim-majority Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in several scattered facilities in the Xinjiang area. CNN published leaked documents in February that showed Uyghur citizens could be detained for ridiculous reasons like growing a beard or having too many children.
CNN obtained a new report from the U.S. government’s Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which claims there is evidence of “egregious human rights abuses.” Detainees have reportedly been used as forced labor in manufacturing and textile factories throughout Xinjiang. Popular companies like Nike, H&M, Adidas, and more may have received goods from the forced labor facilities, according to the CECC. “Forced labor exists both within the (Xinjiang’s) system of mass internment camps, and throughout the region, and is confirmed by the testimony of former camp detainees, satellite imagery, and recently leaked Chinese government documents,” the report said.
The CECC’s report noted that if companies did receive goods from the forced labor facilities, it violates the U.S. and international laws. “These egregious human rights abuses may constitute atrocities under U.S. law and crimes against humanity under international law,” the report said.
