It is unclear whether the Xinjiang government finally supplied O-Film with more workers. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. O-Film could not immediately be reached for comment.
Another company on the list, Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co, has said on its website that its cooperative partners include Google, HP, Haier, iFlytek and Lenovo. Another publicly-listed company, Changji Esquel Textile Co. Ltd, also appears to have ties to major international brands, working with Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Muji, according to the Chinese company’s website.
PVH, owner of the Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss brand and a representative of Muji in the United States, where the brand is being restructured, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
The Wall Street Journal reported in May 2019 that Esquel had established three spinning mills in Xinjiang, and that the company had accepted at least 34 Uighur workers offered by Chinese officials. In an April statement, Esquel denied using forced labor and called the statements “completely false and deeply disturbing.”
In a letter to Mr. Ross on Monday, Esquel said again that she would not and would never use forced labor, and requested to be removed from the list.
“Where is the evidence that Esquel has ever, in his 25 years of operations in Xinjiang, used forced labor?” wrote John Cheh, the chief executive of the Esquel Group. “No agency of any government or non-governmental organization has presented such evidence, because it does not exist. In the run-up to listing our Changji factory on the entity list, no one from the Commerce Department spoke to anyone in Esquel or we would have gladly provided them with the facts and answered any questions at that time. “
Companies on the entity list also include KTK Group, which supplies components for high-speed trains, and Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co. Ltd. On July 1, the US Customs and Border Protection confiscated a shipment of 13 tons of hair products made by Lop County Meixin Hair Product Co. Ltd. that they suspected was made from human hair originating from Xinjiang.
