On December 23, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The Act prohibits U.S. imports of any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Such imports of all goods made in whole or in part from any good from the XUAR will be banned effective June 21.
CBP is issuing letters to importers who have previously imported goods potentially subject to this law and informing them that noncompliance may result in enforcement actions. The letter states that “any future entries of such merchandise may be subject to CBP enforcement action, including seizure, forfeiture and/or penalties, or other appropriate action under the customs laws.” Importers that are members of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism could also be suspended or removed from that program.
It is imperative for importers to be proactive and closely analyze their supply chain to ensure they are not sourcing any products from the Xinjiang region and violating the UFLPA. Deringer is holding a two-part Uyghur Prevention Act webinar series during June to assist importers with understanding what the law covers, what to expect, and what to do to ensure compliance and prove that goods are not being produced with forced labor. We will also review the UFLPA Known Importer Letter sent to importers that may be affected. The first session will be held on June 8, and the second session will take place on June 29. Click here to register or for more information.
