Letter from Keith Krach to Business Leaders on Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
09.18.23
It is critical that U.S. companies and individuals be aware of the large-scale human rights abuses perpetrated by the PRC government in Xinjiang. Businesses should evaluate their exposure to the risks that result from partnering with, investing in, and otherwise providing support to companies that operate in or are linked to Xinjiang.
Dear business colleagues,
I write to bring your attention to an important advisory from the U.S. government. On July 1, the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security together published the “Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory,” a clear statement of concern for the attention of U.S. companies, investors, and their business partners around the world. As Secretary of State Pompeo stated when he announced this advisory, U.S. businesses with potential supply chain and investment exposure to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) or to facilities outside Xinjiang that use labor or goods from Xinjiang should consider the reputational, economic, and legal risks of involvement with entities that engage in human rights abuses, including forced labor in the manufacture of goods intended for domestic and international distribution.
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Technology is the new frontier of international relations. The interaction is bi-directional: technology is defining diplomatic matters while diplomacy is also influencing the development and deployment of technology. Take semiconductors as an example. This is a technology that forms the foundation of digital economy, national security, and productivity in almost all industries. Global supply chain in the semiconductor industry is shaping U.S. foreign policy. Conversely, America’s diplomatic effort has been redefining the supply chain. Tech diplomacy is different from science diplomacy, which became a key pillar for the U.S. and other countries since World War II. Scientists participated in treaty negotiations, engaged in bilateral summits and served as attachés at embassies. Primary topics included nuclear proliferation, super-collider construction, human space exploration and environmental science.