The US bans all Xinjiang cotton products and tomatoes over forced labor

Published Jan 14, 2021

Tridge summary

The US is set to prohibit the entry of all cotton products and tomatoes from China's Xinjiang region due to allegations of human rights abuses against the Muslim-minority Uighurs by the Chinese government. This action is part of a broader strategy to hold China accountable for the alleged ill-treatment of workers. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement a withhold-release order (WRO) to detain these goods at US ports, including apparel, textiles, and tomato-related products. This move is despite potential impact on the US clothing industry, given Xinjiang's significant cotton production. Industry groups have requested more information from CBP on its findings and enforcement actions. The incoming Biden administration has been urged to adopt a coordinated global approach to address forced labour in Xinjiang.

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Original content

WASHINGTON (BLOOMBERG) - The US will bar entry of all cotton products and tomatoes from China's Xinjiang region, where it says Beijing is oppressing Muslim-minority Uighurs. The move is the latest in a series of actions where the US is raising pressure on China over some companies' alleged ill-treatment of workers. The US says the Chinese government has detained more than 1 million Uighurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in "re-education" internment camps, allegations that the Foreign Ministry in Beijing denies. "Forced labour is a form of modern slavery," Acting Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Kenneth Cuccinelli said on a call with reporters Wednesday. "'Made in China' doesn't just indicate country of origin - it's a warning label." The goods to be detained at US ports of entry in the so-called withhold-release order, or WRO, following the CBP investigation include apparel, textiles, tomato seeds, canned tomatoes, and tomato sauce, Acting Customs and ...

Source: Straitstimes