Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region WRO Frequently Asked Questions

Does it apply to only cotton and cotton products, and tomatoes and tomato products produced in the XUAR, or does it also cover products made in other parts of China, or third countries using inputs from the XUAR?

The WRO was issued against cotton and tomatoes and their downstream products produced in whole or in part in the XUAR, and includes downstream products produced outside the XUAR that incorporate these inputs. Downstream products made in third countries that incorporate these inputs are subject to the WRO. Examples of covered products include apparel, textiles, tomato seeds, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and other goods made with cotton or tomatoes. Importers are responsible for ensuring the products they are attempting to import were not made with the use of forced labor at any point in their supply chain.  

Redelivery may be ordered on goods within the scope of the WRO.  Generally, demand for redelivery will be made no later than 30 days after the date that the merchandise was released, or 30 days after the end of the conditional release period, whichever is later.  

Shipments subject to this WRO will be detained, not seized.  Upon detention of the merchandise, importers have the option to export the goods, or provide proof of admissibility in accordance with 19 CFR 12.43.  The merchandise will be excluded from entry to the U.S. commerce if the importer does not provide proof of admissibility within the three-month period, or if the documentation provided is insufficient to establish that the goods are admissible. 

The WRO applies to goods entered from a FTZ or warehouse on or after January 13, 2021, the date the WRO was issued. 

The port of entry will issue a detention notice to the importer for merchandise detained under the WRO.  The notice will state that the merchandise is detained pursuant to the WRO, and will provide instructions for response.

To request release of a particular shipment, importers may submit evidence to the port of entry where the shipment is being detained, in accordance with 19 CFR 12.43. It is incumbent upon the importer to prove admissibility of the merchandise within three months, per 19 CFR 12.43.

Evidence submitted to establish admissibility must demonstrate that the imported merchandise was not produced in whole or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region using forced labor. 

Are there examples of information that CBP finds helpful in making this determination? For example, will CBP require chain of custody documentation?

Importers contending that merchandise detained under 19 CFR 12.42(a) was not produced with forced labor must submit the Certificate of Origin signed by the foreign seller as required by 19 C.F.R. 12.43(a), which may be submitted in electronic form, and a detailed statement from the importer, as outlined in 19 C.F.R. 12.43(b).

Guidance Concerning the Certificate of Origin:

• A standard Certificate of Origin is not acceptable. The required format for the certificate of origin is detailed in 19 CFR 12.43(a). This paragraph includes the exact wording of the certificate that should be signed by the seller/manufacturer.
• The statement required by 19 CFR 12.43(b) should be submitted by the importer, not the seller. The importer’s statement should be sufficiently detailed and include proof that the goods were not produced, wholly or in part, with forced labor.

Supporting documentation should trace the supply chain from the origin of the cotton or tomatoes, to the production and processing of downstream products, to the merchandise imported into the United States.

Detention notices will request the following types of documentation. This is not an exhaustive list.  Additional documentation may be required. 

For cotton products:  Provide sufficient documentation to show the entire supply chain from the origin of the cotton at the bale level through the final production of the finished product and identify the parties involved in the production process.  Provide a list of suppliers, with associated production process, to include names, addresses, flow chart of the production process, and maps of the region where the production processes occurred.  Number each step along the production processes and number the additional supporting documents associated to each step of the process.

For tomato products:  Provide supply chain traceability documents pointing to the point of origin of the tomato seeds, tomatoes, or tomato products.  Affidavit from the tomato processing facility that identifies both the parent company and the estate that sourced the tomato seeds and or tomatoes.  Purchase Order, Invoice, and Proof of Payment for the tomato seeds, tomatoes, or tomato products, from the processing facility and the estate that sourced the raw materials.  All production records for the tomato seeds, tomatoes, and/or tomato products that identify all steps, from seed to finished product, from the farm to shipping to the United States.

In accordance with 19 CFR 12.43, evidence that a particular shipment was not produced with forced labor should be submitted to the port of entry where the shipment is detained.  When submitting an admissibility package containing this evidence, please also copy or notify the appropriate Center via email.

CBP recommends that the trade community use the following resources to better understand and address the risks of forced labor in global supply chains:

• The Department of Labor’s Comply Chain App;
• The Department of Labor’s List of Goods Made by Child Labor or Forced Labor;
• The Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report; and
• The July 2020 Xinjiang Business Advisory.

In addition, please refer to the CBP website for information on CBP's Informed Compliance Publication on Reasonable Care.

To combat the risks of forced labor in supply chains, importers should have a comprehensive and transparent social compliance system in place.  CBP’s Informed Compliance Publication on Reasonable Care includes a section on forced labor.   

The Department of Labor’s website provides guidance on setting up a social compliance system:  https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/

Yes, when goods subject to a WRO are only a portion of a shipment, the importer may file a request for a manipulation permit with the Port of Entry. 

Upon approval of the request for a manipulation permit by the Port of Entry, the importer may choose to amend the entry to secure the release of the goods that are not subject to the WRO.  If the importer intends to contest that the goods are subject to the WRO, those goods may be entered into a bonded warehouse.  Alternatively, the goods may be exported or destroyed.

Yes, under the Trade Secrets Act, CBP cannot reveal confidential business information, as described in 19 CFR 201.6, to the public.