Congressional Inquiry Concerning UFLPA Enforcement
January 26, 2026
The Coalition welcomes the Congressional inquiry to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, raising “grave concern” about a significant decline in enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). New data indicates more than a fourfold drop in stopped shipments between April and August of this fiscal year, compared to the previous five-month period. Additionally, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) has not added any new entities to the UFLPA Entity List since January 15, 2025, despite ongoing evidence of widespread forced labour transfers in the Uyghur Region.
In their letter, the 13 members of Congress requested detailed information from the agencies to clarify their current enforcement strategies, including how they are identifying new entities for the UFLPA Entity List and additional high-risk sectors, evaluating forced labour allegations, and coordinating with other FLETF member agencies. This Congressional inquiry highlights an urgent need for renewed transparency, strengthened enforcement, and sustained commitment to the UFLPA and Section 307 of the Tariff Act. Stronger enforcement and global coordination are necessary to ensure goods tainted with state-imposed forced labour do not reach any markets.
Photo by Donghun Shin on Unsplash