US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data from 2023 unveils that Vietnam tops the list with the highest shipment value of apparel, footwear, and textile goods at US $ 19.14 million under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
The interactive CBP dashboard, launched in March of the previous year, enhances transparency in UFLPA enforcement, providing a consolidated data source while safeguarding sensitive trade information.
In the specified period, Vietnam’s US $ 19.14 million lead in this sector surpassed China’s US $ 17.70 million, with other countries totaling US $ 1.07 million. Cambodia, Nicaragua, and Sri Lanka recorded US $ 0.63 million, US $ 0.68 million, and US $ 1.03 million, respectively.
Apparel and textiles accounted for 786 out of 4,193 shipments, ranking third after Electronics (1,470) and Industrial and Manufacturing materials (900). Of the 786, 430 shipments (55 per cent) were denied, 273 (35 per cent) released, and 83 (11 per cent) are pending.
From the UFLPA’s inception to May 2023, CBP prevented 679 shipments worth US $ 40.54 million. Furthermore, Malaysia led in shipment value during this period. Kharon’s UFLPA study revealed that the crackdown on third-country pass-throughs has significantly impacted goods from Malaysia and Vietnam, surpassing those directly imported from China.
CBP has stated, “Third-country manufacturing, where countries beyond China produce goods made with inputs from Xinjiang, is becoming increasingly common. Since there is no de minimis threshold for the UFLPA, any product that contains even a trace amount of inputs made with forced labour is subject to possible enforcement action.”