Kim Glas, President and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), has praised the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for adding 26 Chinese textile companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This expansion brings the total number of entities banned from importing goods into the US to 65, reinforcing efforts to curb forced labor in global supply chains.
Glas emphasized the importance of this move in combating the influx of slave labor cotton and man-made fibers from Xinjiang, China, into the US market. She noted that 76 per cent of Chinese cotton products contain Xinjiang cotton, which infiltrates global supply chains and undermines US textile producers. The influx of these products has led to the closure of 17 American textile plants in recent months, resulting in significant job losses.
The expanded Entity List aims to enforce anti-forced labor legislation more rigorously and sends a strong message to offenders. However, Glas argues that more companies outside China should be scrutinized for their involvement in forced labor. She also calls for closing the de minimis loophole, which allows uninspected imports of slave labor goods and other harmful products directly into the US.
To further mitigate economic harm and enforce UFLPA, the NCTO recommends increased inspections, expanded isotopic testing of shipments, and enhanced verification measures with Western Hemisphere trade partners. These steps are part of a broader DHS strategy to protect the US textile industry and deter entities that exploit forced labor.
Glas concluded by stressing the critical need for comprehensive enforcement actions to safeguard domestic manufacturing and uphold labor standards.
