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The country’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are already preparing to order a ban on imports of cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang.
However, no official announcement has yet been made. CBP is preparing a “release withholding order.” Based on this, if there is any question about mandatory labor, CBP may stop the shipment of goods.
The law is used to tackle human trafficking, child labor and other human rights violations.
CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner Brenda Smith told Reuters the import ban would cover all products made from it, including cotton and tomatoes. Such as: cotton yarn, fabrics, clothing and tomato paste, as well as other products made with tomatoes, which are exported from Xinjiang.
The Trump administration in the United States is increasing pressure on China to stop persecuting Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. China has recently tightened security in Xinjiang, citing the threat of terrorism and separatism.
The United States says it has received credible reports that one million Uighur Muslims are being held in Chinese prisons. However, China claims that these camps are training centers to fight extremism.
The United States previously imposed sanctions on Chinese officials, accusing them of violating the human rights of Uighur Muslims and other minorities in Xinjiang province.
Additionally, the US Department of Commerce blacklisted 11 Chinese companies in July for allegedly forcing them to work.
This time around, an import ban from Xinjiang would hurt US textile retailers and producers and even food producers.
Meanwhile, about 20 percent of the world’s cotton is produced in China, with most of it coming from Xinjiang. The region is also an important source of petrochemicals and other products.
The US move to halt imports from Xinjiang is expected to increase tensions with China.
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