Volkswagen Import Obstacle: US Cites Forced Chinese Labor Issues

Feb 15, 2024 12:33 AM EST

VW BEETLE CAR CLASSIC CAR FOREST — (Photo : PIXABAY/PEXELS)

Numerous high-end vehicles such as Porsches, Audis, and Bentleys are currently detained at US ports due to accusations that they include components manufactured via forced labor in China. This situation arises as Volkswagen faces allegations of gaining from human rights violations in China's contentious Xinjiang region, located in the western part of the country.

U.S. Blocks Volkswagen Import Citing Forced Chinese Labor

The Telegraph cited the Financial Times report, that all these brands, which are part of the Volkswagen Group, a German automotive behemoth, are implicated for including electronic parts from "western China" that are suspected to violate anti-slavery legislation.

Volkswagen import faces scrutiny following allegations that the company benefited from human rights violations in Xinjiang, a region in western China known for its turmoil. The US has implemented a blockade against Volkswagen import and other products suspected of being manufactured with forced Chinese labor, adhering to legislation enacted in 2021 aimed at combating such practices.

Financial Times also stated around 1,000 Porsches, several hundred Bentleys, and thousands of Audis have been detained, highlighting the extent of the issue. Volkswagen has yet to respond to these reports.

In a recent statement, Volkswagen acknowledged it is reassessing its partnership with SAIC Motors in Xinjiang. This reevaluation comes amid claims that a large test track in the Turpan Basin, allegedly constructed with the forced labor of Uyghur Muslims, is part of their joint venture's operations.

According to The i, as reported by the Financial Times, approximately 1,000 Porsches, a few hundred Bentleys-handcrafted in the UK-and several thousand Audis have been seized. The car manufacturer stated that upon receiving information about allegations concerning one of their sub-suppliers, they immediately commenced an investigation into the matter.

They emphasized their commitment to clarifying the facts and promised that they will take appropriate measures following.

Forced Labor in China

According to Politico, two years after a damning United Nations investigation exposed forced labor violations in Xinjiang, new information shared exclusively with POLITICO reveals that the region is still forcing the Uyghur ethnic group to work. These revelations are expected to push Western legislators to tighten restrictions on Xinjiang imports.

A forthcoming report from Adrian Zenz, an academic endorsed by Beijing, set to be released in the Jamestown Foundation China Brief, reveals that the "forced labor transfers" involving the Uyghur Muslim population in 2023 have not only continued but have also increased beyond the previous year's figures and exceeded government-required levels.

The research, covering the year 2023 and the early part of this year, contributes to the accumulating evidence suggesting that Beijing is employing forced labor and extensive internment camps as methods to suppress the Uyghur population. This situation increases the urgency for the European Union to complete its strategy for a comprehensive ban on the importation of goods produced through forced labor across the bloc.

As per ABC News, the UN's Special Rapporteur reports that forced labor is occurring among Uyghur, Kazakh, and other ethnic minorities. According to his findings, there are two separate "state-mandated" systems in place in Xinjiang, one of which is a labor-transfer program. China, however, denies any allegations of mistreatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in the region.