* First such action under Trump, largest since list took

effect

* Some newly listed companies have sold in the United States

* China condemns action, says it will protect its companies

* Beijing has regularly denied forced labor accusations

(Updates July 31 story to add Chinese commerce ministry

statement, further context on newly listed companies, and

requests for comment to these entities)

By Karen Freifeld and Eduardo Baptista

WASHINGTON/BEIJING, July 31 (Reuters) - The United States on

Friday banned imports from 43 more Chinese companies over

alleged rights abuses of Uyghur and other minority groups,

targeting firms in supply chains from electronics to food and

metals, a government notice showed.

The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor

Prevention Act Entity List, which creates a presumption that

goods made wholly or partly by listed entities are made with

forced labour and cannot enter the United States unless

importers can prove otherwise.

Beijing has regularly dismissed accusations of forced labour

and other abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in

the region of Xinjiang.

The noticepublished by the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security marks the first time companies have been added to the

list under the Trump administration. It brings the number of

mentioned entities to 187 from 144 - the largest single

expansion since the act creating the list was signed into law in

2021.

CHINA SAYS IT WILL TAKE 'NECESSARY MEASURES'

China's Commerce Ministry on Saturday condemned the U.S.

action as an unfounded unilateral sanction, which it said had

come just a day after trade officials from both countries had

what it described as a constructive video call.

China would take "necessary measures" to protect its

companies, the ministry added without going into more detail.

Four companies were listed over what the U.S. government

said was their work with Xinjiang authorities to recruit,

transfer or receive Uyghurs and other persecuted groups.

The Federal Register notice said the other 41 were added

because they source materials from Xinjiang or from entities

linked to government labour programs there.

"Today's action by the Trump administration strengthens

America's economy against products made with slave labor,"

Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select

Committee on China, said in a statement.

China's embassy in Washington called such allegations "a

lie" on Friday and said Chinese law prohibits forced labour and

that workers in Xinjiang are free to choose their occupations.

INCLUDES COMPANIES WITH US SALES LINKS

The listings include suppliers of materials used in

electric-vehicle and energy-storage batteries.

Reuters contacted 10 of the newly listed companies for

comment but none responded outside normal business hours.

Those included SDIC Xinjiang Lithium Industry, which makes

lithium carbonate, and its parent, SDIC Xinjiang Luobupo Potash,

which were listed over their sourcing of lithium and potassium

from brine at Xinjiang's Lop Nur Salt Lake.

Xinjiang Tianhongji Technology, which makes materials for

lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, was also added. The U.S.

notice said it sources petroleum coke, anthracite and asphalt

from Xinjiang to make battery materials.

Hunan Aihua Group, a Chinese maker of aluminum

electrolytic capacitors used in consumer electronics, industrial

equipment, vehicles and renewable-energy systems, was listed

because the U.S. government said it sources materials including

chemical foil from a production base in Xinjiang.

Aihua sells capacitors under the AiSHi brand and has a North

American sales office in Glen Allen, Virginia, according to its

website. Its products are also sold by U.S. electronics

distributor DigiKey.

Chacha Food, a snack-food producer, was also

added. The U.S. notice said Chacha exports products including

nuts and roasted seeds to nearly 50 countries and regions and

sources agricultural products from Xinjiang.

Chacha Food has previously identified the United States as

its largest overseas market. In a 2019 report, state-owned China

Daily said the company had launched products in Walmart and

Costco stores, mainly in New York and Los Angeles. Reuters could

not immediately establish whether those retail arrangements

remain in place.

TRANSFORMERS, SOLAR MATERIALS, ALLOYS, GOLD

The companies that Reuters contacted for comment did not

immediately respond on their social media accounts to the U.S.

listing or the details in it.

Among the largest was TBEA Co, which makes

transformers and other transmission equipment, aluminum products

and high-purity polysilicon, a material used in solar panels.

The U.S. notice said TBEA sources aluminum and

aluminum-alloy products from Xinjiang. It also listed TBEA

subsidiary Xinjiang Tianchi Energy, saying the unit sources coal

from the region.

The action also covers Tianshan Aluminum Group

and seven affiliates. Tianshan says it has 1.4 million tons of

annual electrolytic-aluminum capacity and a 2.5 million-ton

alumina production line.

Shandong Gold Mining, which has assets or

projects in China, Argentina, Ghana and Namibia, was also listed

along with units including Shandong Gold Smelting.

The U.S. notice said the group sources gold from Xinjiang,

and one of its subsidiaries owns and operates the region's

largest single gold mine.