US bans imports from 3 Chinese genomics companies

The United States on Wednesday banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies over their alleged roles in enabling the forced labour of Uyghur

and other ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang region.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security BGI Genomics Co Ltd, MGI Tech Co Ltd, and Shenzhen BGI Technology Co Ltd, which US says is also known as the BGI Group,

were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

The list identifies entities that use or facilitate the use of forced labour of Uyghurs and other minorities, or source material from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

US Customs and Border Protection is instructed to stop goods from listed companies from entering the US unless exporters can rebut the presumption they were made with forced labour.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the move and said the unfounded allegations are fabricated by anti-Chinese forces with the goal of smearing China.