Dynasties against democracy

November 19, 2021

CHINA — XINJIANG COTTON LAUNDERING ON SALE AT A CHAIN STORE NEAR YOU. A new report —How Xinjiang Cotton is Obscured in International Supply Chains — details evidence of 53 contract garment suppliers across Asia, Africa and Mexico that purchase fabric and yarn from Chinese manufacturers that use cotton farmed by Uyghurs. The report argues that those purchasing decisions create liability for major brands working with the suppliers, including Target, Walmart, Lululemon, C&A and Uniqlo.“Some of the world’s most well-known fashion brands are very likely selling products produced with Uyghur forced labor to unwitting consumers,” said Louisa Greve, Director of Global Advocacy at Uyghur Human Rights Project.

Customs officials from the U.S. and other jurisdictions will now also be in a bind. U.S. officials imposed an order in January prohibiting importation of all cotton goods from Xinjiang, but have blocked relatively few imports.

Read the full article: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-insider/2021/11/19/dynasties-against-democracy-495170