Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department plans to take to prevent (a) cotton from Xinjiang and (b) other unethically sourced products from entering the UK.

The United Kingdom has taken a leading international role in holding China to account for its violations of rights in Xinjiang, including in respect of credible evidence of forced labour. We have repeatedly condemned such violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. Most recently, on 6^th October, we worked with Germany to deliver a joint statement – with 38 other countries – at the United Nations.

We advise businesses with supply chain links in Xinjiang to conduct appropriate due diligence so they may satisfy themselves that their activities do not support, or risk being seen to support, any violations of rights. In addition, research into forced labour in Xinjiang, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has been crucial to raising awareness of this issue with businesses.