China calls the addition of 43 of its companies to a US import blacklist economic coercion

The United States on Friday 31 July 2026 (9 Mordad 1405) added 43 Chinese companies to its import blacklist under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. It is the first time the Trump administration has expanded the list, and 43 is the largest number of companies added in a single batch since the law took effect in December 2021.

Beijing condemned the move on Saturday 1 August (10 Mordad), calling it economic coercion. According to Chinese state media, a commerce ministry spokesperson said the US action lacks any factual basis, damages the legal rights of Chinese companies and disrupts global industrial and supply chains.

The spokesperson also criticised the timing, saying the measure was announced just one day after Chinese and US trade officials held talks on keeping bilateral economic relations stable, talks Beijing had described as candid and constructive. China again rejected allegations of forced labour in Xinjiang and called on Washington to stop politicising the issue.