China trade: Xinjiang’s US exports down 90 per cent in February, 8 months after ‘forced labour’ law came into effect

Exports from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to the US dropped by almost 90 per cent last month, year on year, to US$497,440

Apparel, which was once the region’s top export to the US, disappeared in February, eight months after the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act came into effect

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Along with cotton, tomatoes and polysilicon, apparel had been identified by US Customs and Border Protection as one of four “high-risk” sectors to be scrutinised. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Published: 5:30pm, 21 Mar 2023

Exports to the United States from China’s far west Xinjiang region tumbled to below US$1 million for the first time on record in February, eight months after a law effectively banning American imports over forced labour concerns came into effect.

Companies from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region exported US$497,440 worth of goods to the US last month, representing a drop of almost 90 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to Chinese customs data.

The reading was the lowest since 2017 – the earliest available data from China’s customs portal.

Apparel, which was once the region’s top export to the US, disappeared in February’s data.

Along with cotton, tomatoes and polysilicon, apparel had been identified by US Customs and Border Protection as one of four “high-risk” sectors to be scrutinised.

Enacted in June, the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act effectively banned American imports of all products from Xinjiang unless conclusive evidence shows that no forced labour was involved in their production. Beijing has repeatedly denied the allegations of forced labour.

Exports from Xinjiang to the US initially surged in the first three months after the law came into effect, but have since declined for five consecutive months.