Japan's Mizuno and World Co to stop using Xinjiang cotton -Nikkei (updated)
21/05/2021 11:49
(Adds background, response from companies)
TOKYO, May 21 (Reuters) - Japanese apparel makers Mizuno
8022.T and World Co 3612.T will stop using cotton from
China's Xinjiang due to concerns over alleged human rights
violations in the region, Nikkei reported on Friday.
Global apparel manufacturers are coming under growing
criticism from consumers for ties to Xinjiang. But some firms
which have said they would not use cotton produced in the region
have faced a strong backlash and boycotts in China. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2LP02P
Activists and U.N. rights experts have accused China of
using mass detainment, torture and forced labour in the region.
China denies these claims and says its actions are necessary to
counter extremism.
A third apparel company COX Co Ltd 9876.T also decided not
to use cotton from Xinjiang, Nikkei said, citing its survey of
50 Japanese apparel and sportswear makers.
Representatives at Mizuno, World Co and Cox were not
immediately reachable for comment outside business hours.
In January, Fast Retailing Co Ltd's 9983.T Uniqlo brand
shirts were blocked at the United States border on concerns they
violated a ban on cotton products produced in the Xinjiang
region.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami, Ju-min Park, Ritsuko Ando,
Editing by David Goodman and Kim Coghill)
((Sakura.Murakami@thomsonreuters.com;))