The White House has confirmed China’s condemnation of this move, although such protestations are likely to register Washington’s unconcern.

The Uyghur Forced LAbor Prevention Act is part of the US’s human rights-leaning policy regarding Beijing's treatment of China's Uyghur Muslim minority.

Washington has labeled the treatment of this minority as genocide.

The bill was passed by Congress this month after lawmakers aligned the House and Senate versions of it.

A highlight of this law is the "rebuttable presumption", this assumes all goods from Xinjiang, where Beijing has allegedly set up detention camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim groups, arise out of forced labour

This part of the law puts the onus on China to prove that it is not practicing forced labour in order for its imports to be acceptable to the US.

China denies any wrongdoing in Xinjiang, which is a major cotton producer and also supplies much of the world's materials for solar panels.

"This is a severe violation of international law and norms of international relations, and a gross interference in China's internal affairs. China strongly condemns and firmly rejects it," US China embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said.

Without explaining, he said China "would respond further in light of the development of the situation.”

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "strong indignation and resolute opposition" to the legislation.

"Claims of 'forced labour’ and 'genocide' in Xinjiang are nothing but vicious lies hyped up by anti-China forces," the statement said.

It added that the US is engaging in "political manipulation and economic bullying under the guise of human rights," and is trying to "undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability and contain China's development.