Report flags ongoing forced labour risks in China’s cotton industry

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US State Department report warns of ongoing forced labour and human rights abuses in China’s cotton hub Xinjiang region

WASHINGTON DC - The US State Department has warned that China’s cotton, textiles, and apparel industries remain deeply entangled in forced labour practices, raising urgent concerns for global fashion brands.

According to the China 2024 Human Rights Report, Xinjiang produces more than 85% of China’s cotton, but the region’s output is “systematically tainted” by state-imposed labour programmes targeting Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.

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