By Karen Freifeld
WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) – The United States on Friday banned imports from 43 more companies over alleged human rights abuses of the Uyghurs, including Hunan Aihua Group, one of China’s largest capacitor manufacturers, according to a government posting.
The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts the import of goods tied to what the U.S. has determined are China’s human rights abuses and ongoing genocide in the Xinjiang region.
The latest additions also include companies in the pharmaceutical, metals, and cotton sectors.
Hunan Aihua Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The posting marks the first time companies have been added to the list under the Trump administration, and brings the number of entities on the list from 144 to 187. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was signed into law in December 2021.
The U.S. says Chinese authorities have established internment camps for Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups in China’s western Xinjiang region. Beijing has denied any abuses.
(Reporting by Karen Freifeld; editing by Susan Heavey and Chizu Nomiyama )
