On September 28, the WSCRC hosted a timely and important discussion to unpack the complexities of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) with three experts in the subject matter. Our panelists included Augustine Lo, senior attorney at Dorsey and Whitney LLP, and Ted Henderson, Director Customs for the United States at Expeditors. The discusson was moderated by Nelson Dong, Partner at the Dorsey and Whitney.
The UFLPA was signed into Law by President Biden in December 2021 in response to allegations of the use of forced labor in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. A new guidance was issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, in June. These changes are of critical importance for anyone who does business in China, handles trade, and/or has supply chains that include Chinese companies. Xinjiang is among the world’s major sources for cotton, polysilicon, and many other goods that are commonplace in the U.S. market. The new guidance introduces significant uncertainty and challenges to the trade community because of the unprecedented scope of the imports that may become targeted for the new enforcement measures.
Our speakers discussed the UFLPA’s requirements, CBP’s implementation and enforcement, best practices for business compliance, and the law’s implications for international trade and U.S.-China relations.
Click below to watch the discussion.
On July 26, the Hon. Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia and President and CEO of the Asia Society, received a very warm welcome in Seattle at a book talk event for his new book “The Avoidable War: the Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict between the US and Xi Jinping’s China.” This event was co-sponsored by the Washington State China Relations Council, the China Studies Program and the East Asia Center at the University of Washington, and the World Affairs Council of Seattle.