‘Political manipulation’: Trump admin alleges Chinese ‘biotech companies of concerns’ use ‘forced labor’ to source materials, barring imports

On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced it would prohibit shipments from the Chinese biotech company BGI Group and its affiliates, alleging ties to forced labor in China's Xinjiang region. Beginning Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will halt goods from BGI Group, BGI Genomics, and MGI Tech, citing claims that the companies source materials from Xinjiang or collaborate with the regional government to employ forced laborers, primarily members of persecuted ethnic groups like the Uyghurs.

The decision comes amid growing tensions in the U.S.-China economic and tech rivalry, with the Treasury Department proposing new restrictions on investments in biotechnology, AI, and supercomputing technologies to China. China vehemently rejected the accusations, labeling the ban as "political manipulation" and "bullying" under the guise of "protecting human rights."

The Ministry of Commerce stated that the listings undermine the stability of China-U.S. economic relations and violate humanitarian principles. China vowed to take "necessary measures" to safeguard its interests. The trade actions precede a planned meeting next month between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Shenzhen, followed by a G20 summit in Florida.

BGI Group dismissed the allegations, maintaining it has "not engaged in any form of forced labor" and strongly opposes such practices. Despite the company's claims, U.S. lawmakers and policymakers have long expressed concerns about BGI's alleged connections to the Chinese government and its access to vast genetic data, which could compromise U.S. national security and commercial interests.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed by President Biden in early 2021, prompted the latest restrictions.