The Trump administration is now blacklisting this major biotech company and its affiliates. Here’s why

The Trump administration has announced plans to blacklist the Chinese biotech company BGI Group and its subsidiaries, citing alleged ties to forced labor in China's Xinjiang region. Starting on Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will prohibit goods from BGI Group, BGI Genomics, and MGI Tech from entering the country. The Department of Homeland Security claims the companies source materials from Xinjiang or collaborate with the local government to recruit, transport, transfer, or harbor forced laborers, including members of persecuted ethnic groups like Uyghurs.

This move follows the Treasury Department's proposal to restrict U.S. investments in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and supercomputing from flowing to countries like China. China denounced the accusations, calling them an act of "political manipulation" and a form of "bullying under the guise of 'protecting human rights.'"

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed by President Biden in December 2021, prompted the blacklisting. China's Ministry of Commerce responded by vowing to safeguard its interests and taking necessary measures. BGI Group refuted the allegations, stating it has not engaged in forced labor and opposes any form of it. The company has significant stakes in BGI Genomics and MGI Tech.

The administration's actions come as the U.S. and China engage in an increasingly competitive race in biotechnology and technology.