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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has intensified enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) since June 2022, reviewing over 18,000 shipments valued at approximately $3.81 billion by early 2026.

In fiscal year 2025, CBP detained about 7,325 shipments for UFLPA review, with only 6.5% released into U.S. commerce. The August 2025 update from the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) designated lithium as a high-priority sector due to concerns over labor practices in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

This designation has led to increased detentions of electronics, automotive, and aerospace parts. The U.S. Department of Labor reported potential child labor risks in cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries, primarily sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The enforcement strategy emphasizes the need for detailed supply chain documentation to address forced labor risks, highlighting the complexities of compliance for importers in the lithium and battery sectors.