BMW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and Volkswagen (VW) have found themselves embroiled in controversy over their use of parts made by a supplier with alleged links to Chinese forced labor. A report by the US Senate Finance Committee has revealed that these automakers imported cars or components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD), a Chinese firm banned over suspected human rights violations.
According to the report, BMW imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper cars into the US that contained components from JWD. Senator Ron Wyden criticized the automakers’ self-policing measures, stating that they are clearly inadequate.
In response, BMW emphasized its strict standards regarding employment practices, human rights, and working conditions, stating that it has halted the importation of affected products and will be notifying customers and dealers about the issue. JLR also highlighted its commitment to human rights protection and anti-slavery measures, stating that it is actively addressing the situation by destroying any stock that includes components from JWD.
VW, on the other hand, did not immediately respond to the report. However, it was noted that in February, VW had voluntarily informed customs officials about thousands of vehicles, including Porsches and Bentleys, that were held due to components breaching America’s anti-forced labor laws.
The report comes in the context of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), passed by Congress in 2021. The legislation aims to prevent the import of goods made by forced labor from China’s Xinjiang region, where more than one million Uyghurs are believed to have been detained against their will.
China has strongly condemned the UFLPA, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson stating that it harms the survival and employment rights of people in Xinjiang under the guise of human rights. Despite these denials, the US has placed JWD on the UFLPA Entity List, indicating that its products are presumed to be made with forced labor.
The report has sparked calls for increased enforcement by US Customs and Border Protection to crack down on companies that contribute to forced labor in China. As the issue continues to unfold, automakers and authorities alike will need to take concrete actions to address these concerns and ensure compliance with human rights standards.
(Source: Financial Times | MSN | New York Times)
