Written by David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said on Monday he was expanding its investigation into German automaker BMW's (ETR:) use of electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier.
Last month, Senator Ron Wyden, after a two-year staff investigation, said he had learned that BMW had imported at least 8,000 Mini Coopers into the United States with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under the 2021 law, and that BMW had continued to import quality products. The high. Parts banned until at least April.
On Monday, Wyden, in a new letter to BMW North America CEO Sebastian Makensen, asked whether the automaker had completed its examination of its supply chain to determine whether other products it had imported contained parts from Chinese Sichuan supplier Jingweida. Technology Group (JWD).
“Is BMW sure it is not currently importing vehicles containing JWD components?” The letter stated a request for answers by June 21. Wyden also wants any action taken by BMW “to address any vehicles or parts containing JWD parts improperly imported by BMW” after December 2023.
The BMW Group, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday, said last month that it had “taken steps to stop importing the affected products.”
The company will take action to replace the identified parts, adding that it “has strict standards and policies regarding employment practices, human rights and working conditions, which all our direct suppliers must follow.”
Congress in 2021 passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) to strengthen enforcement to prevent the import of goods from China's Xinjiang region believed to have been produced using forced labor by members of the country's Uyghur minority. China denies these accusations.
The report found that Bourns Inc., a California-based automotive supplier, acquired components from JWD, which was added to the UFLPA's entity list in December.
Burns provided JWD parts to ler (NYSE:) Corp, a direct supplier to BMW and other automakers. Burns reported to Lear in January that electronic components known as LAN adapters had been produced by JWD and were banned in cars imported from the United States.
Lear said last month that he takes the issues raised seriously and shares the committee's “desire to combat forced labour,” and noted that it has no direct relationship with JWD.