The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released in December its latest enforcement statistics on forced labor and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), showcasing the total number of shipments inspected, the top industries targeted, and the countries of origin.
As of early December data, the agency said it has reviewed over 6,000 shipments valued at more than $2 billion since enforcement of the UFLPA began in mid-2022. Of those shipments, about 2,500 shipments, valued at more than $514 million, were denied entry to the U.S. – a 40 percent denial rate – while about 2,700 were released. About 1,000 shipments are still pending.
Most of the shipments inspected originated from China, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Both China and Vietnam accounted for 34 percent of shipments inspected while Malaysia accounted for 26 percent.
However, Malaysia accounted for 53 percent of the total shipments by value while Vietnam and China accounted for 26 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
Vietnam-origin shipments saw the highest rate of denied shipments, with a 56 percent denial rate.
For the industries targeted under the UFLPA, electronics led the way with the highest number of shipments inspected, accounting for 46 percent of shipments investigated. Apparel, footwear and textiles came in second, closely followed by industrial and manufacturing materials.
Of the 6,315 total shipments inspected, there were 2,932 shipments of electronics inspected worth more than $1.8 billion in value. Of those shipments, 875 were denied while 580 are still pending.
As of early December data, the agency said it has reviewed over 6,000 shipments valued at more than $2 billion since enforcement of the UFLPA began in mid-2022. Of those shipments, about 2,500 shipments, valued at more than $514 million, were denied entry to the U.S. – a 40 percent denial rate – while about 2,700 were released. About 1,000 shipments are still pending.
Most of the shipments inspected originated from China, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Both China and Vietnam accounted for 34 percent of shipments inspected while Malaysia accounted for 26 percent.
However, Malaysia accounted for 53 percent of the total shipments by value while Vietnam and China accounted for 26 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
Vietnam-origin shipments saw the highest rate of denied shipments, with a 56 percent denial rate.
For the industries targeted under the UFLPA, electronics led the way with the highest number of shipments inspected, accounting for 46 percent of shipments investigated. Apparel, footwear and textiles came in second, closely followed by industrial and manufacturing materials.
Of the 6,315 total shipments inspected, there were 2,932 shipments of electronics inspected worth more than $1.8 billion in value. Of those shipments, 875 were denied while 580 are still pending.
UFLPA statistics on heavily impacted industries
The UFLPA, which went into effect in 2022, prohibits goods produced in Xinjiang from entering the U.S. unless there is sufficient evidence proving that the products were not made with forced labor.
Since the law was enacted, the U.S. has added 30 companies to its UFLPA Entity List for engaging in forced labor activities tied to Xinjiang.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security added three Chinese companies to the entity list for participating in government-sponsored poverty alleviation and labor transfer programs in Xinjiang.
“DHS has prioritized enforcement, and we will continue to pursue companies that ignore the law and exploit those abused in the People’s Republic of China,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, on the day of the designations in December.
Since the law was enacted, the U.S. has added 30 companies to its UFLPA Entity List for engaging in forced labor activities tied to Xinjiang.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security added three Chinese companies to the entity list for participating in government-sponsored poverty alleviation and labor transfer programs in Xinjiang.
“DHS has prioritized enforcement, and we will continue to pursue companies that ignore the law and exploit those abused in the People’s Republic of China,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, on the day of the designations in December.
