China Select Committee Calls out Fashion Brands for Uyghur Exposure

Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent letters to Nike, Adidas, Shein, and Temu last week, raising concerns about the companies' alleged use of Uyghur forced labor in their supply chains.

This follows the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which outlawed such practices.

The letters addressed Chinese companies Shein and Temu, citing concerns that they may be exploiting the de minimis loophole in U.S. trade law to bypass the UFLPA and continue selling goods made with Uyghur forced labor to American consumers.

Rep. Gallagher said, "American businesses and companies selling in the American market have a moral and legal obligation to ensure they are not implicating themselves, their customers, or their shareholders in slave labor."

Rep. Krishnamoorthi added, "These companies need to show that they’re following the law, and their supply chains are free from forced labor."

Recent reports have indicated that Nike may be sourcing materials, including cotton, from suppliers in the Xinjiang region. Adidas has faced similar allegations, with German researchers determining that its clothing was made with Xinjiang cotton. Fast fashion retailer Shein and shopping app Temu were both found to be using the de minimis loophole to send products to U.S. consumers, potentially violating the UFLPA.