May 11, 2021

Timothy Cook
CEO, Apple Inc.
One Apple Park Way
Cupertino, CA 95014

Dear Mr. Cook,

I write to express my deep concern regarding a recent report published by The Information and
human rights groups detailing your company’s potential connection to forced labor and to the
ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity being committed against Uyghurs and other
ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

In July 2020, the Department of State issued a Business Advisory warning of the “reputational,
economic, and legal risks of involvement with the entities that engage in human rights abuses,
including but not limited to forced labor in the manufacture of goods intended for domestic and
international distribution.”1 Only a few weeks after this Advisory was published, you testified
before the House Committee on the Judiciary, during which you verbally affirmed that “forced
labor is abhorrent” and that “We would not tolerate it at Apple,” including that Apple would
terminate such a business relationship.

To this end, I was encouraged by Apple’s decision in December 2020 to end its supplier
relationship with O-Film after discovering the company utilized forced labor.

However, considering your commitment under oath, I hope you can appreciate the seriousness of
the allegations that your company’s supply chain sources products from at least seven companies
that use forced labor: Advanced-Connectek, Luxshare Precision Industry, Shenzhen Deren
Electronic Co., Avary Holding, AcBel Polytech, CN Innovations, and Suzhou Dongshan
Precision Manufacturing Co.

I therefore ask for the following information to be provided to my office as soon as possible but
no later than June 15, 2021:

1
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Xinjiang-Supply-Chain-Business-Advisory_FINAL_For-508-
508.pdf
 • The nature of Apple’s business relationship with each of the seven companies listed
above;
• Documentation related to any internal investigation into these companies’ connection to
forced labor or any other human rights concerns prior to entering into or during the
business relationship between Apple and the respective companies;
• A thorough description of the process by which Apple currently verifies its suppliers are
not participating in human rights abuses such as forced labor;
• A thorough description of any actions Apple plans to take to ensure its current and future
supplier relationships have no ties to forced labor or other egregious human rights abuses.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

______________________
Ken Buck
Member of Congress