Ways and Means Democrats Call for Greater Enforcement Against Polysilicon Products Made with Forced Labor in Xinjiang

Jun 10, 2021

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI), member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, led a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requesting it take strong enforcement action on products containing polysilicon made with forced labor in Xinjiang, China to block them from entering the United States.

'CBP has yet to take a single enforcement action, even though it received allegations more than seven months ago and suggested imminent enforcement action nearly three months ago,' wrote the Ways and Means members. 'CBP has had sufficient time to review the disturbing facts regarding forced labor and polysilicon production in Xinjiang-we believe it is time to act.'

The lawmakers continued: 'There is overwhelming evidence of the use of forced labor in polysilicon production that we believe exceeds the standard for acting in accordance with Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307). CBP must act quickly to enforce our laws prohibiting the use of forced and slave labor from entering our country. Our government cannot sit idly by. We need you to take strong action. American jobs, our economy and our values are at stake.'

Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Ron Kind (D-WI), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Don Beyer (D-VA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) also signed the letter.

Read the full letter HERE.

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