On July 15, the government of China rejected the accusations put forward by the US of forced labour in the northwestern territory of Xinjiang.
Furthermore, China’s government has condemned the US for harming global trade by introducing import curbs as well as warning American companies of legal consequences for operating business in the region.
On Wednesday, the US Senate had agreed to block imports of goods such as clothing, tomatoes, cotton, etc. made with the alleged forced labour in Xinjiang. The ruling party of China is accused of members of mostly Muslim ethnic groups including the Uyghurs.
US Department of Commerce and other agencies have alerted companies with ties to Xinjiang that they hold a high risk of violating the country’s law against forced labour.
According to South China Morning Post, Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act aims at creating a “rebuttable presumption” with an assumption that goods manufactured in Xinjiang are produced with forced labor and hence, prohibited under the 1930 Tariff Act unless certified by the authorities of the States otherwise.
Gao Feng, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said, “The so-called human rights and forced labour issues in Xinjiang are completely inconsistent with the facts.”With no direct reference to either US measure, he added that the approach adopted by the country had “seriously undermined” the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chain.
The spokesperson stated, “China firmly opposes it.”
