WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has announced a halt on shipments from the Chinese biotech firm BGI Group and its affiliates due to alleged connections to forced labor practices in Xinjiang, China. Commencing Thursday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will prevent goods from BGI Group, which is renowned for its genetic sequencing technologies, and its branches BGI Genomics and MGI Tech.
The Department of Homeland Security reports that these companies are either sourcing materials from Xinjiang or collaborating with local authorities to engage in forced labor practices involving persecuted ethnic groups, including the Uyghurs. This move places these firms on a trade blacklist as geopolitical tensions around biotechnology and technology continue to rise between the U.S. and China. Last week, the Treasury Department presented new restrictions aimed at curtailing U.S. investments in advanced technologies flowing to countries like China.
In response, China has denied any accusations of forced labor, criticizing the ban as “political manipulation.” The Ministry of Commerce stated that these actions undermine bilateral relations and contradict humanitarian principles. In anticipation of a meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Shenzhen, these new trade measures come at a critical diplomatic moment.
BGI Group refuted the claims, asserting that it does not engage in forced labor. The company emphasized its private ownership status and clarified that it does not operate or hold genetic data in the U.S. Concerns about BGI Group’s ties to the Chinese government have heightened over the years. U.S. lawmakers worry about the potential threat to national security and business interests.
While efforts to restrict BGI’s engagement with federally funded providers have stalled in Congress, legislation passed requiring a list of concerning biotechnology companies. The Pentagon labeled BGI entities as military companies of China, impacting their reputation. DHS directed attention to credible sources indicating cooperation in genetic testing activities in Xinjiang, accusing the practice of enabling government oppression.
These updates relate to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed into law by then-President Joe Biden in 2021, addressing alleged abuses against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The Chinese government has dismissed the allegations and defended its policies in the region as necessary for combating terrorism.
In recent months, the Trump administration expanded the blacklist in line with this legislation, incorporating more Chinese companies, increasing the total to 187. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin committed to safeguarding American workers against unfair competition from foreign firms employing forced labor.
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