This week, Congressman Curtis introduced the No Forced Labor on TV Act, a bill to prohibit the advertising of products that were made using forced labor from China.

“I was shocked to see multiple ads during the Super Bowl from Temu, a company that the House Select Committee on China found is likely using forced labor in their supply chain in violation of U.S. import laws,” said Rep. Curtis. “The CCP is committing horrible human rights abuses against the Uyghurs and this bill will ensure these companies do not get the ability to undercut American businesses with dangerous labor practices.”

The No Forced Labor on TV Act defines the advertising of forced labor products as a deceptive practice and prohibits their advertisement on TV from China.

In addition to the accusations of forced labor, the Congressman has heard from numerous small businesses who have had their IP stolen and sold on Temu and similar Chinese sites.

Background:

In 2021, Congress passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. It gives the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the ability to block products from the Xinjiang region of China, where the Chinese Communist Party has forced the Uyghurs into labor camps and “re-education” centers and subjected them to forced sterilization. Both the Trump and Biden State Departments have categorized this as genocide.

In June, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party released a report detailing how companies like Temu and Shien have skirted restrictions on the importation of forced labor products. The report found:

•      Temu’s business model is to avoid bearing responsibility for compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and other prohibitions on forced labor while relying on tens of thousands of Chinese suppliers to ship goods direct to U.S. consumers.

•      Temu conducts no audits and reports no compliance system to affirmatively examine and ensure compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

•      Temu admitted that it “does not expressly prohibit third-party sellers from selling products based on their origin in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.”

For bill text, click here.

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