The US has banned imports from 37 Chinese companies due to accusations of forced labour and human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in China's Xinjiang region, according to a Reuters report.

The Department of Homeland Security announced this decision on Tuesday, focusing on solar, mining and textile firms. Leading international textile maker Huafu Fashion Co. and 25 of its subsidiaries are among the prohibited companies. These companies are allegedly connected to forced labour in China's cotton industry, according to the US. The businesses have been included in the Entity List of the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act. This list prohibits products linked to purported human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs and other minorities are allegedly being held in internment camps, according to US officials. However, China denies these assertions. 

The ban applies to solar product manufacturers such as Donghai JA Solar Technology Co and Hongyuan Green Energy Co, which obtain materials from Xinjiang. It also includes Zijin Mining Group Co, a major mining company, along with three of its subsidiaries involved in metal extraction from the region. Since the law was passed in December 2021, 144 companies have been added to the entity list. Both the banned companies and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. The Biden administration is taking new steps to support car manufacturing and artificial intelligence in the US while enforcing stricter rules on Chinese technology. 

These actions could also influence Donald Trump's decisions if he takes office. A law prohibiting new personal smart cars from Russia and China was passed on Tuesday. Additionally, US officials intend to look into the possibility of expanding this prohibition to include commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses. Trump had the opportunity to choose his strategy for dealing with China as a result of these moves. Although it would take years to reverse the smart car ban and he would need to determine whether to complete other measures, he could reverse some of Biden's recent regulations.