The United States has banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies over alleged forced labour in Xinjiang, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
The companies added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List are BGI Genomics Co. Ltd, MGI Tech Co. Ltd and Shenzhen BGI Technology Co. Ltd, which the US says is also known as the BGI Group. From 29 October, US Customs and Border Protection applies a rebuttable presumption that their goods are barred from entering the United States unless importers prove they were not made with forced labour.
The Department of Homeland Security says the firms support genetic testing in Xinjiang alongside the regional government and facilitate the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of forced labour of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other persecuted groups.
The companies deny the allegations. MGI Tech said they are inconsistent with the facts and that it has zero tolerance for forced labour, while BGI Group said it has not engaged in forced labour. Beijing also denies forced-labour allegations in Xinjiang.
Source: Reuters, via Channel News Asia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/us-bans-imports-three-chinese-genomics-companies-citing-forced-labor-6500086
