Statement: Justice For All Denounces U.S.-China Mineral Deal That Violates Uyghur Forced Labor Ban and Genocide Determination

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign strongly condemns the recent actions of the Trump administration in undermining the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) through a new agreement with the Chinese Communist Regime. The agreement prioritizes U.S. access to rare earth minerals over the rights and dignity of the Uyghur people who are coerced into forced labor by the Chinese government.

By announcing that China will make it easier for U.S. industry to obtain magnets and rare earth minerals—while imposing tariffs that do nothing to address the root issue of forced labor—the Trump administration is enabling the continued exploitation of Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in Chinese-occupied East Turkistan.

The UFLPA prohibits the importation of all “goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by forced labor.” Yet, a June 2025 report by Global Rights Compliance suggests that companies such as Avon, Walmart, Nescafe, Disney, Quaker, Costa Coffee, Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Sherwin-Williams may be linked to titanium sourced from Chinese-occupied East Turkistan, for products such as insulated mugs, flasks and cups.

Notably, the United States government has formally recognized the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs in Chinese-occupied East Turkistan, with the first Trump administration taking steps to acknowledge and condemn these atrocities. However, despite this determination, the current Trump administration is now actively undermining its own genocide designation by striking deals with China that facilitate the continued economic exploitation of the Uyghur people. This sends a dangerous signal that economic interests are being prioritized over the lives and rights of millions, and it weakens the credibility of U.S. commitments to human rights and international law.

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign demands that the United States government immediately cease all agreements that facilitate the import of minerals and goods from Chinese-occupied East Turkistan, and fully enforce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The Trump administration must not prioritize short-term economic gain over the fundamental rights of the Uyghur people and the integrity of U.S. law. 

We call on all policymakers, businesses and consumers to join us in holding the U.S. government accountable and to reject any products or agreements that perpetuate the ongoing genocide and forced labor in Chinese-occupied East Turkistan.