US Imposes Ban on Chinese Cotton Imports

The United States has implemented a sweeping ban on the importation of cotton from 26 Chinese companies with ties to the Xinjiang region.

This move comes amid grave accusations of forced labor and genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority.

Persistent claims by Washington of Uyghur persecution at the hands of Beijing have been vehemently refuted by China, which dismisses them as baseless fabrications.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, asserted the nation's staunch stance against forced labor within its supply chains.

The announcement marks a significant expansion of the blacklist under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

This action underscores the US commitment to holding accountable those responsible for the ongoing atrocities against Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang.

Among the targeted entities, five companies directly source cotton from Xinjiang, while 21 others are involved in wholesale cotton trading.

The ban on Xinjiang-sourced cotton imports has been in effect since 2021, following the enactment of the UFLPA.

While condemning the law as a disruptive tool, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington emphasized its potential to hinder China's developmental goals.

Congressional leaders Chris Smith and Jeff Merkley, who head the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, commended the DHS's action but stressed the need for a broader blacklist encompassing all companies sourcing materials from Xinjiang.

China continues to deny allegations of labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, labeling genocide claims as absurd and false.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out the significant population growth among the Uyghurs over the past four decades as evidence contradicting these allegations.