US imposes trade ban on BGI Group over forced labor allegations
The US Department of Homeland Security has blocked shipments from Chinese biotech firm BGI Group and its affiliates, citing ties to forced labor practices in Xinjiang.
The U.S. government has added BGI Group and its subsidiaries, BGI Genomics and MGI Tech, to a trade blacklist, effectively barring their goods from entering the United States. The move, executed under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, follows allegations that the companies cooperated with authorities in Xinjiang to utilize forced labor from ethnic minority groups, including Uyghurs.
According to federal authorities, the companies provided genetic testing technologies that aided the Chinese government in surveillance and repression. BGI Group has denied these claims, stating that it has not engaged in any form of forced labor and opposes such practices.
China’s Ministry of Commerce responded by labeling the sanctions as political manipulation and an attempt to disrupt trade relations. Officials in Beijing indicated that China would take necessary measures to protect its interests, as the two nations navigate ongoing trade competition and diplomatic friction.
The action marks a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to distance its biotechnology sector from Chinese firms. Policymakers have long expressed concern regarding BGI’s access to genetic data and its perceived links to the Chinese military, leading to increased regulatory scrutiny over the firm’s international operations.