The U.S. added two Chinese firms to its Xinjiang trade blacklist, citing forced labor accusations. The Department of Homeland Security named a steel manufacturer and an artificial sweetener maker under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The list now bans imports from 75 entities linked to forced labor in Xinjiang, targeting industries beyond cotton and textiles. China denies the accusations. Relations between the nations grow more tense as Beijing launches investigations into U.S. firms over "discriminatory measures" against Xinjiang-based businesses.