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Xinjiang: US to block some exports from Chinese region Xinjiang: US to block some exports citing China's human rights abuses
(about 7 hours later)
The US has ordered border officials to block shipments of clothing, computer parts and other products made at select locations in China's Xinjiang region. The US will block some exports from China's Xinjiang region, over alleged human rights abuses against the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.
The move is the latest by the Trump administration to put pressure on China over its treatment of Xinjiang's Uighur Muslims. It says "forced labour" was used to make the products, including at a "vocational" centre it called a "concentration camp".
The US said the sites use forced or prison labour. The export ban targets five entities shipping clothing and other cotton goods, as well as computer parts and hair products to the US.
China is believed to have detained more than one million people from Xinjiang, citing security risks. It stops short of a wider regional ban.
It has said its programmes, which have included transferring detainees to manufacturing sites, provide job training and education and are necessary to combat terrorist and separatist threats. "These extraordinary human rights violations demand an extraordinary response," Kenneth Cuccinelli, the Department of Homeland Security's acting secretary told reporters.
Washington and Beijing have repeatedly clashed over the practices, with the US accusing the country of human rights abuses. "This is modern-day slavery."
The move is the latest by the Trump administration to put pressure on China over the situation in Xinjiang.
Beijing is believed to have detained more than one million people from Xinjiang in recent years, citing security risks.
China maintains the internment sites provide job training and education and are necessary to combat terrorist and separatist threats.
Thousands of children have been separated from their parents and, recent research shows, women have been forcibly subjected to methods of birth control.
The orders on Monday "send a clear message to the international community that we will not tolerate the illicit, inhumane, and exploitative practices of forced labour in US supply chains," Mark A. Morgan, acting commissioner of US Customers and Border Protection agency, said.The orders on Monday "send a clear message to the international community that we will not tolerate the illicit, inhumane, and exploitative practices of forced labour in US supply chains," Mark A. Morgan, acting commissioner of US Customers and Border Protection agency, said.
"The Trump administration will not stand idly by and allow foreign companies to subject vulnerable workers to forced labour while harming American businesses that respect human rights and the rule of law." "Forced labour is an atrocious human rights abuse that is completely against the values that we all share."
The orders the US announced on Monday fall short of the region-wide ban that it had considered. Officials said, however, they were still exploring that possibility. "The Trump administration will not stand idly by and allow foreign companies to subject vulnerable workers to forced labour while harming American businesses that respect human rights and the rule of law," Mr Morgan said.
"Because of its unique nature, being, applying to a region as opposed to a company or a facility, we are giving that more legal analysis," Department of Homeland Security acting secretary Kenneth Cuccinelli said. The orders announced on Monday target four companies and one manufacturing site.
They fall short of the region-wide ban that it had considered. Officials said, however, they were still exploring that possibility.
"Because of its unique nature, being, applying to a region as opposed to a company or a facility, we are giving that more legal analysis," Mr Cuccinelli explained.
"We want to make sure that once we proceed that it will stick, so to speak.""We want to make sure that once we proceed that it will stick, so to speak."
China produces about 20% of the world's cotton with most of it coming from Xinjiang. The region is also a major source of petrochemicals and other goods that feed into Chinese factories.China produces about 20% of the world's cotton with most of it coming from Xinjiang. The region is also a major source of petrochemicals and other goods that feed into Chinese factories.
This month, US entertainment giant Disney came under fire for shooting parts of its new Mulan film in Xinjiang.This month, US entertainment giant Disney came under fire for shooting parts of its new Mulan film in Xinjiang.
Other firms have faced calls for consumer boycotts due to alleged ties to the region.Other firms have faced calls for consumer boycotts due to alleged ties to the region.
The orders issued on Monday apply to: