The United States has moved to block imports from three Chinese genomics companies over allegations linking their activities to forced labour involving Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region.
The companies affected are BGI Genomics, MGI Tech and Shenzhen BGI Technology, which US authorities identify as part of the BGI Group. The US Department of Homeland Security announced the decision on October 28, 2026, adding the companies to the Entity List established under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Under the measure, US Customs and Border Protection is instructed to stop goods associated with the listed companies from entering the United States unless importers can provide sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that the goods were produced using forced labour.
The US government alleges that BGI Genomics and BGI Group conducted genetic testing in Xinjiang in cooperation with regional authorities in ways that could facilitate forced labour and the surveillance of ethnic minorities. It also alleges that MGI Tech supplied equipment and related support used in the testing activities.
The Department of Homeland Security said genetic data and other information could be used in systems that monitor and restrict the rights of minority communities. The designation forms part of broader US efforts to prevent products associated with forced labour from entering American markets.
However, the companies have rejected the allegations. BGI Group said it had not engaged in forced labour and opposed such practices in any form. MGI Tech also denied the claims, describing them as inconsistent with the facts and saying it would challenge the designation. Both companies said their business activities in the United States represented a limited share of their overall operations.
The Chinese government has also criticised the US decision, rejecting allegations of forced labour and human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Beijing has described the restrictions as an attempt to suppress Chinese businesses and has said it would take steps to protect the interests of affected companies.
The latest action brings the number of entities on the US forced-labour list to 190, according to reports. The list covers businesses that US authorities believe use or facilitate forced labour involving Uyghurs and other minority groups, or source materials from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The dispute comes amid continuing trade and technology tensions between Washington and Beijing. Biotechnology and genetic sequencing have become increasingly important areas of competition because of their applications in medical research, diagnostics, public health and the management of sensitive genetic information.
The restrictions could affect the companies’ access to the US market and create additional compliance challenges for businesses that source equipment or materials from them. However, the companies have indicated that their US operations represent only a limited portion of their overall business.
The decision also highlights the growing connection between international trade rules, human rights concerns and biotechnology supply chains. Companies operating across borders may face increasing scrutiny over where their materials originate, how their products are used and whether their activities comply with labour and human-rights standards.
For now, the US restrictions remain based on the government’s designation and its legal presumption concerning forced labour. The affected companies deny the allegations, and the dispute reflects the wider disagreement between Washington and Beijing over conditions in Xinjiang and the treatment of ethnic minorities.
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