The US government has expanded its ban on products linked to forced labour involving Uyghur people in China's Xinjiang region, adding 29 new companies to its blacklist.
This move marks the largest increase in the ban list, which was originally established under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in late 2021.
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The new restrictions mainly target agricultural products, including various foods, seeds, and natural medicines, as well as companies involved in mining materials like gold and copper. With this addition, the blacklist now includes over 100 companies.
Though the furniture industry is not directly impacted by this latest ban, industry experts have expressed concern about the broader implications. During the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) compliance conference in August 2024, Travis Snapp, president of Benchmark International, highlighted the potential risks for furniture manufacturers. He referred to the law as one of the most severe regulatory challenges faced by the industry, noting that if a supplier is cited, they could be removed from the supply chain unless they can provide sufficient evidence to disprove the allegations within 30 days.
Snapp stressed the importance of traceability in supply chains and urged companies to map their supply chains thoroughly to avoid disruptions.
Source: www.furnituretoday.com