Rubio Welcomes Withhold Release Orders on Products From Xinjiang, Calls for Further Action

Press Release

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be barring the entrance of products, including cotton, apparel, computer parts, and hair products made by six entities using forced labor from, or in, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR):

"As the Chinese government and Communist Party continue perpetrating possible crimes against humanity through the exploitation of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, the U.S. must ensure that goods stained with forced labor stop entering our supply chains," Rubio said. "Blocking the entrance of products, including cotton from Xinjiang, is an important measure to counter China's egregious human rights abuses. Today's announcement is a step in the right direction, but does not go far enough. Congress needs to pass my Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (S. 3471) to ensure Americans are not complicit in these human rights abuses."

Related:

July 23, 2020: Rubio statement following organizations' call for clothing retailers to end sourcing from Xinjiang

March 12, 2020: Rubio, McGovern lead bipartisan, bicameral group introducing Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

March 11, 2020: Congressional-Executive Commission on China releases report on Uyghur forced labor.

Rubio is Co-Chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) as well as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee that oversees human rights.

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