How the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Became Law, Parts 8 and 9

How did this bill pass Congress? What other bills are lawmakers considering? And how can America more directly help people harmed by the genocide?

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Editor’s Note: This is the fifth and final installment of a story documenting the creation and passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The first installment is available here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth is here. The story is based on more than 21 hours of interviews with more than two dozen people involved, including lawmakers, staff, and human rights advocates. An audio version of the story is available here. Dispatch members can download a PDF of the full report here.

8. What Next?

The passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act tells several stories.

It tells the story of lawmakers seeking real responses to China’s genocide, and how difficult it can be to win support for meaningful action in the face of corporate resistance and dueling policy priorities.

It tells the story of determined Uyghur advocates and a coalition that fought for the bill every step of the way.

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  1. Shari Feeser

    Haley,
    Very cool, my financial consultant has asked me to forward your article. My discussion with him regarding our investments piqued his curiosity. Good work!

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  2. Shari Feeser

    Haley, do you know of any resource available to help avoid any market investments that are tied to this genocide? Thank you!

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      Haley Byrd Wilt vertical-nib Author

      Hey there — a friend spent a lot of time pulling this together and it mig it be helpful for you: https://jww.org/site/uyghur-china-forced-labor-database/

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      1. Shari Feeser

        Thank you!
        Your deep dive article really took
        hold of me. Appreciate you and the whole Dispatch team.

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        1. Avatar photocircle-angle-nib
          Haley Byrd Wilt vertical-nib Author

          Thank you for reading it!

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  3. Charles Heard

    Thank you for this excellent series. What a wonderful tribute to The Dispatch!

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    Ben Connelly

    I’d prefer an embargo to tariffs. If there’s we shouldn’t import goods made with slave labor, we need an outright ban. A tax on those goods isn’t the answer. Just make it illegal to import.

    “ If he wanted to, President Biden could unilaterally make the change prioritizing Uyghur refugees, matching America’s official view of the genocide in Xinjiang with tangible action. He hasn’t yet.”

    Microphone drop by Haley.

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    Francesca

    Thanks fir the whole series

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  6. P Satter

    Excellent series. Thank you for your reporting.

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  7. Mary Kathleen

    It was infuriating in the early 90's when we rewarded China's Tiananmen Square massacre by granting them most Favored Nation Trading Status. I remember some Congressman claiming Americans wanted to keep trading with China in spite of human rights abuses because we "loved those cheap prices" we were paying for their goods. I was disgusted he tried to shift ownership away from Congress. Even back then I was aware of Christians and other dissidents being held in prison labor camps. Now it's Christians, political dissidents, Falun Gong, Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. Our entanglement with China has compromised our economy, our security and our moral integrity and ultimately helped fund the surveillance police state they have become. We are responsible for helping grow the monster that is terrorizing the Uyghurs and others. We owe it to them to welcome their refugees and to stop feeding the monster. Thank you for shining a light on this terrible situation.

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  8. Joe1776

    Great series.

    But don't we know the focus on Xinjiang is not going to solve the problem?

    "The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country.1 Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories ....

    This report estimates that more than 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019, and some of them were sent directly from detention camps.2 The estimated figure is conservative and the actual figure is likely to be far higher. In factories far away from home, they typically live in segregated dormitories,3 undergo organised Mandarin and ideological training outside working hours,4 are subject to constant surveillance, and are forbidden from participating in religious observances.5 Numerous sources, including government documents, show that transferred workers are assigned minders and have limited freedom of movement.6"
    https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale

    I believe this report was used in the piece. Is it accurate/credible? If so it seems China has trafficked huge numbers of slaves/prisoners out of Xinjiang to other areas of China. So just because an item doesn't come from Xinjiang that doesn't mean slave labor was not used. How could anyone in the US possibly know whether any items in China were made from slave labor?

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    Psmangelsdorf

    Bravo, Haley, Bravo!

    My thanks to you for this monumental reporting, and to the Senators, Representatives, and activists that pushed this through.

    The plight of the Uyghurs is gut wrenching, however the fact that our legislators figured out how to do something, anything, about it gives me a small sliver of hope.

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  10. Brendan Bossard

    Excellent work Haley! Very much worth the time.
    PS Dispatch: this is your second cue for Pulitzer nomination!

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