Chinese Cotton Association slams US forced‑labour sanctions on 43 firms

The United States placed 43 Chinese companies, including cotton‑textile firms, on the Uyghur Forced‑Labor Prevention Entity List, alleging the use of forced labour. The Chinese Cotton Association (CCA) issued a strong protest, saying the accusations lack factual and legal basis and breach fundamental rules of international trade.

The CCA highlighted that more than 90% of cotton harvesting in Xinjiang is now mechanised, that workers’ rights are protected by Chinese law and that employment is voluntary. It argued the sanctions are a politicised attempt to curb the development of China’s cotton and textile sectors and warned they could destabilise global cotton supply chains.