Canadian candidacy and forced labor proposals
Arkin, a former World Uyghur Congress vice president, will run for the Bloc Québécois in a federal by-election in Montreal's Laurier–Sainte-Marie riding. Party leader Yves-François Blanchet introduced her candidacy at a press briefing at Place Vauquelin on October 25, 2026. She is set to become the first Uyghur woman to seek federal office in Canada, a development the WUC regards as an important advance in Uyghur participation in democratic institutions worldwide.
Born in Urumqi, Arkin moved to Quebec at age 10, grew up in Montreal and studied law at the Université de Montréal. She joined the WUC in Munich in 2019, later led its global advocacy work and served as vice president from October 2024 to October 2026. She received the Four Freedoms Award in the Netherlands in April 2024.
The by-election follows the June 2026 resignation of Steven Guilbeault, the former Liberal environment minister who won the riding with 52.1 percent of the vote in the 2025 general election. By late October 2026, the New Democratic Party had nominated Nimâ Machouf, but the Liberals had not named a candidate.
The Bloc's 2025 platform included commitments to oppose imports made with Uyghur forced labor and to define "transnational repression" in the Criminal Code. Separately, a new policy brief, "Strengthening Canada's Response to Forced Labour," calls for strong measures under Bill C-35, which aims to prohibit imports made with forced labor. The brief identifies risks from state-imposed Uyghur forced labor across global supply chains, including electric vehicles, and recommends tighter import restrictions and greater corporate accountability.
US restrictions target three linked companies
The United States has imposed import restrictions on BGI Genomics Co., Ltd., MGI Tech Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen BGI Technology Co., Ltd. over alleged ties to Uyghur forced labor. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the companies either conduct genetic testing used to identify people for forced labor or supply equipment for that testing.
The restrictions took effect on October 29, 2026. US Customs and Border Protection applies a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by the three companies cannot enter the United States.
The companies share ownership links: Shenzhen BGI Technology, also known as BGI Group, holds a controlling stake in BGI Genomics. MGI Tech and BGI Group have the same ultimate controlling shareholder.
DHS announced the three additions to the UFLPA Entity List on October 28, bringing its total to 190 entities. On July 31, 2026, the department had added 43 entities in what it described as the list's largest single expansion since its creation.
WUC presses Steinmeier to raise alleged abuses
The WUC called on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss alleged genocide, mass incarceration and forced labor in East Turkistan with Chinese officials during his state visit. The trip ran from October 26 to 31, 2026, his first visit to China in eight years.
Steinmeier met President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji in Beijing. His itinerary also included Volkswagen's plant in Hefei. The visit took place as the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee held a plenary session.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was meanwhile traveling with business representatives to Japan, Singapore and South Korea. According to Deutsche Welle, that Indo-Pacific trip focused on competitiveness, technological change, defense cooperation and critical raw materials.
