China’s Commerce Ministry denies US accusation of forced labor in Xinjiang

China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that the addition of Chinese companies to a list of entities that the US alleges use forced labor had no factual basis, saying the US actions disrupt the stability of global supply chains.

The US has used its domestic laws to impose unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies – a clear act of economic coercion that has harmed the companies’ legitimate rights, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

China opposes forced labor and says the Xinjiang region – where the US says the alleged human rights abuses took place – is stable, prosperous and free of any “forced labor,” it said.

In the statement, China urged the US to stop “attacking and smearing” Xinjiang over this issue and to end unfair pressure on Chinese companies, warning that Beijing will act to protect the companies’ rights.

The US on Friday banned imports from 43 more Chinese companies over alleged human rights abuses of Uyghur and other minority groups. The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts the import of goods tied to what the US says are human rights abuses and ongoing genocide in the Xinjiang region.