China’s state-imposed labour transfers in Xinjiang have surged to record levels, with 3 million transfers reported in 2025, despite US trade restrictions. The Times Leader report highlighted the involvement of Hoshine Silicon Industry, the world’s top metallurgical-grade silicon producer, which saw a significant production increase despite US regulations. Around 90% of Hoshine’s output still originates from Xinjiang, indicating challenges in enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
The report revealed that labour violations involve workers being escorted to fields and having their identity documents seized. Those who resist assignments face detention and coercion until compliance. China’s strategy aims to evade international scrutiny by using a three-party agreement involving local governments and state-owned human resources firms to mandate minimum employment periods for workers. Despite claims of using non-Xinjiang materials for US-bound products, Chinese companies maintain strong ties to Xinjiang production.
Manufacturers employ tactics like shifting production stages to other countries and misrepresenting product origins to bypass US laws. This circumvention strategy has allowed Chinese companies to continue Xinjiang-linked production while appearing compliant with regulations.
