US blacklist adds 43 Chinese firms, but Xinjiang cotton sector stays steady
After the United States placed 43 Chinese companies on an import blacklist over forced-labour concerns, a cotton-ginning mill owner in southern Xinjiang says the textile industry remains largely unaffected and continues to grow.
The United States announced in late July that 43 Chinese firms, among them well-known food and apparel producers, were being added to an import blacklist over alleged forced-labour in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Despite the announcement, a cotton-ginning mill owner in southern Xinjiang, who asked to stay unnamed, said the addition seemed sudden but would not significantly affect the sector. He observed that local processing of cotton now runs at roughly 30-40 % and that companies are steadily enlarging operations from spinning and weaving to printing and dyeing.
This calm attitude marks a sharp departure from the anxiety that erupted four years ago when Xinjiang cotton first entered the geopolitical spotlight. The owner suggested the industry has adapted through extensive export diversification and a rebalanced China-US relationship, especially after the extensive trade war that began last year. Overall, Chinese textile firms appear more confident in weathering US sanctions.
Why it matters
The story shows how China's cotton industry is adapting to US forced-labour sanctions, signaling broader trade-policy resilience.
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