Traces of Xinjiang Uygur Cotton Found In US Apparel Imports
US Customs has detected links to cotton grown in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in 28 percent of all tests done on apparel and shoes imported from China.
Under an act enacted in 2022, the US banned import of garments produced from cotton grown in the Xinjiang Uygur region, over allegations of forced labour.
“These figures were collected for the first time, from documents obtained from Freedom of Information Act,” media reports stated.
The apparels and footwear were tested through Isotopic testing, where it is possible to link cotton grown in a precise geographical region.
This is done by tests seeking traces of elements like carbon and hydrogen present in the crop and also the environment in the region.
The documents informed that that about 10 of the 38 garments checked had traces to Xinjiang Uygur grown cotton.
Of overall tests, 28 percent of clothing and footwear were found to have traces of cotton grown in the Xinjiang Uygur region and includes shirts, trousers, jeans, t-shirts, baby dresses, etc.
Isotopic testing is also being conducted by several clothing brands and retailers to check that Chinese manufactured apparels do not contain cotton grown in the region
