Shein has denied using forced labor and that it was planning to go public in the U.S. this year. U.S. lawmakers are also questioning Shein's data privacy and use of a U.S. duty exemption on low-priced direct shipments to consumers. Shein's $600,000 lobbying outlay, filed on Friday, does not put it "among the biggest spenders," Auble said. By contrast, U.S. retailers Walmart spent $1.62 million and Gap spent $140,000 in the second quarter, lobbying disclosures showed. Since the 2022 third quarter, Shein has paid lobbying firms Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures $500,000; and Akin, Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld $270,000, the firms' filings showed.

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Persons: Daniel Auble, Shein, Auble, Akin, Gump Strauss Hauer, Feld, Arriana McLymore, Richard Chang Organizations: YORK, Capitol, Center for Responsive, Securities and Exchange Commission, Reuters, Labor, Walmart, Hobart Hallaway, Quayle, Thomson, & $, & $ Locations: China, Singapore, U.S, New York City