The United States bans imports of three Chinese genomics firms accused of forced labour

The United States on Wednesday banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies, citing concerns over forced labor of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang region. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it added BGI Genomics, MGI Tech, and Shenzhen BGI Technology to a list that already includes numerous companies subject to trade restrictions. This list indicates that it brings together companies working with the Xinjiang government to “recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive persons subjected to forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz or other members of persecuted groups outside Xinjiang”.

According to DHS, the targeted companies “helped collect genetic material used to trace persecuted ethnic minorities, including people subjected to forced labor.” MGI rejected the allegations in a statement Wednesday, calling them "unfounded and inconsistent." BGI has not responded to requests from AFP at this stage.

The Chinese government has not spoken out either. “Under President Trump's leadership, we will not let companies involved in forced labor and surveillance of persecuted minorities profit from the U.S. market,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on

Human rights organizations say serious persecution, including forced labor, continues to occur in the region. China denies the accusations, saying its policies have stamped out extremism in the region and promoted economic development. The Trump administration last week proposed new rules aimed at restricting investments in Chinese biotechnology companies.

Other technologies are already under close scrutiny, such as artificial intelligence and computer chips.

Machine-translated from French