Sanctions on Xinjiang cotton use opposed

On March 30 last year, the BCI announced that it would suspend cooperation with licensed farmers in Xinjiang during the 2020-21 cotton season over allegations of forced labor in the region.

However, the BCI's office in Shanghai issued a statement on March 1 this year, in response to inquiries about the situation in the region, saying that not a single case of forced labor had been found in Xinjiang.

Ryohin Keikaku Co Ltd, which operates the MUJI brand, also said in a statement on March 1 that the company had recently undertaken enhanced due diligence of factories in Xinjiang that are indirectly related through the supply chain. The statement said no significant issues were identified, and the only issues that were noted can be corrected by farms or ginning factories taking steps to make immediate improvements.