U.S. Customs Broadens Focus Under Forced Labor Law

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has detained $43 million worth of electronics from India since October under a law banning goods produced with forced labor. This move follows allegations of forced labor in China's Xinjiang region. Indian solar panels have faced heightened scrutiny due to suspected Chinese components.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has intercepted nearly $43 million in electronics shipments from India since October, under a 2022 law aimed at preventing goods made with forced labor from entering the country, agency data reveals.

While CBP has not specified the types of electronics detained, industry sources indicate that polysilicon—a key material in solar panels—has historically been the primary focus of detentions. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) targets goods made in China's Xinjiang region, where allegations of forced labor involving ethnic Uyghur and other Muslim groups have been reported.

The heightened scrutiny of Indian shipments reflects CBP's expanded efforts to enforce UFLPA regulations, especially as Indian solar panel exports to the U.S. have surged. Top Indian suppliers, including Waaree Technologies and Adani Enterprises, have faced detentions, although Adani's shipments were subsequently released.

(With inputs from agencies.)