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☆ Amazon's Asian rival Shein wants to be supply chain giant, but some fear Chinese cyber spying inside global trade links
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Shein logistics software is in beta testing with select supply chain customers, according to a person familiar with its plans. "Shein's software could provide unprecedented access to sensitive supply chain data, which the Chinese government could seize under its laws. This exposure poses a direct threat to U.S. supply chain integrity, making it vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation." Even with a headquarters based in Singapore, company supply chain data could be subject to seizure by the Chinese. Shein's fast rise to dominance Shein's dominance lies in the company's hyper-flexible supply chain, according to a recent report from supply chain intelligence firm Zero100.

Persons: Jade Gao, Shein, cybersecurity, Lee Kair, Kair, Dewardric McNeal, McNeal, Ram Ben Tzion, Ben Tzion, Department of Homeland Security's, Shein's, Srini Cherukuri, Chris Xu's, Zero100, Eric Fullerton, Project44 Organizations: Shein, Afp, Getty, Transportation Security Administration, U.S, Authentic Holdings, Simon Property Group, Longview Global, Obama administration's Department of Defense, CNBC, Standards Organization, Secretariat, IAF, Microsoft U.S, EU, Social, International, Uyghur Forced Labor, Department of Homeland, Border Patrol, New York, ITS Logistics, Logistics Locations: Guangzhou, China's Guangdong, Jade, China, U.S, Exiger, Shein, Asia, Singapore, Frankfurt, Germany, Xinjiang Province, Customs, York, United States

☆ Shein wants to sell the supply-chain tech it used to disrupt online shopping. Retail experts say brands may have concerns.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Shein has also grown beyond its fashion roots, selling products in categories such as home goods, electronics, and office supplies. A Shein spokesperson said the company's success did not depend on the de minimis provision. The Shein spokesperson said the company had a "zero-tolerance policy for forced labor" and required its "contract manufacturers to only source cotton from approved regions." "Shein suppliers and third-party sellers are required to comply with company policy and certify their products do not infringe third-party IP." "Currently, Shein just sells the very low-cost products, but including various brands in its platform, it can sell products at various price ranges," he said.

Persons: —, Shein, Donald Tang, Evelyn Gong, who's, It's, confidentially, Prince Ghosh, Ghosh, Christophe Archambault, Gong, minimis, wouldn't, JADE GAO, hasn't, Anand Kumar Organizations: Chain Management, Service, Industry, Wall Street Journal, Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, Research, London Stock Exchange, Brands, Walmart, Walmart Commerce Technologies, Department of Homeland Security, Labor, CNBC, National Retail Federation, Coresight Research, Shein Locations: China, Singapore, Paris, minimis, Shein, Guangzhou

☆ BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with banned Chinese parts into U.S., Senate report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

German automaker BMW imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the United States with electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier, a U.S. Senate report released on Monday said. A report by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden's staff said BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under a 2021 law and that BMW continued to import products with the banned parts until at least April. BMW Group said in an email it had "taken steps to halt the importation of affected products." The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD). That Chinese company was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December, which means its products are presumed to be made with forced labor.

Persons: Ron Wyden's, Wyden Organizations: BMW, U.S, Senate, Senate Finance, Coopers, BMW Group, Labor, Customs and Border Protection, Inc, Sichuan Jingweida Technology Locations: Leipzig, Germany, United States, China's Xinjiang, China, California, Sichuan

☆ Senate Inquiry Finds BMW Imported Cars Tied to Forced Labor in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ana Swanson | Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A congressional investigation found that BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen purchased parts that originated from a Chinese supplier flagged by the United States for participating in forced labor programs in Xinjiang, a far western region of China where the local population is subject to mass surveillance and detentions. BMW shipped to the United States at least 8,000 MINI vehicles containing the part after the Chinese supplier was added in December to a U.S. government list of companies participating in forced labor. Volkswagen took steps to correct the issue. The investigation, which began in 2022 by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden of Oregon, a Democrat, highlights the risk for major automakers as the United States tries to enforce a two-year-old law aimed at blocking goods from Xinjiang. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act bars goods made in whole or in part in Xinjiang from being imported to the United States, unless the importer can prove that they were not made with forced labor.

Persons: Ron Wyden Organizations: BMW, Jaguar, Rover, Volkswagen, Senate Finance, United States, Labor Locations: United States, Xinjiang, China, U.S, Oregon, United

☆ Uyghur forced labor: US blocks imports from 26 Chinese textile firms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington (Reuters) — The United States has barred imports from 26 Chinese cotton traders or warehouse facilities on Thursday as part of its effort to eliminate goods made with the forced labor of Uyghur minorities from the US supply chain. US officials believe Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in China’s western Xinjiang region. “The so-called ‘Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’ is just an instrument of a few US politicians to disrupt stability in Xinjiang and contain China’s development,” the spokesperson said. Washington has restricted imports from 65 entities since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List law was passed in 2021, according to the department. “We enthusiastically endorse DHS’s action today to nearly double the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s ‘Entity List’ — while recognizing that the current list remains only a fraction of the businesses complicit in forced labor,” Representative Chris Smith and Senator Jeff Merkley, chairs of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said in a statement.

Persons: ” Alejandro Mayorkas, “, Chris Smith, Jeff Merkley Organizations: Washington, Reuters, Uyghur, Labor, US Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security, Congressional, Commission, DHS Locations: United States, China’s Xinjiang, China’s, Xinjiang, Beijing, Washington, China, Asia

☆ US lawmakers are turning up the heat on Temu, Shein, and their use of a shipping loophole that helps keep their prices low
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US lawmakers are ramping up their pressure on e-commerce platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. Representatives for Temu, Shein, and AliExpress did not return Business Insider's request for comment. It added that almost 50% of all de minimis shipments to the US come from China. Shipping consultancy ShipMatrix estimates that Temu and Shein each ship more than a million packages to the US daily. Brown and Scott are not the only US lawmakers to advocate for change as Temu and Shein have gained a foothold.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sherrod Brown, Rick Scott, Brown, Scott, AliExpress, spokespeople, Shein, minimis Organizations: Business, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Customs, Temu, Chinese Communist Party, China . Shipping, Uyghur, Labor Locations: China, minimis, United States, mstone@businessinsider.com

☆ Temu returns to Super Bowl ad slate as lawmaker ire swells
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Temu, the controversial Chinese e-commerce giant looking to take on Amazon , is returning to the big game on Sunday with a Super Bowl ad that lawmakers are calling on Paramount Global and CBS not to run. The multi-million dollar investment put Temu on the map and by the end of 2023, it was the No. On Wednesday, 11 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the CEOs of CBS, which is airing the Super Bowl, and parent company Paramount urging them not to run the advertisement. "Specifically, Temu 'does not have any system to ensure compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Allowing Temu's commercial to air "would be a touchdown for the Chinese Communist Party against the home team," the letter stated.

Persons: haven't, Temu, Carol Miller, Byron Donalds, Jim Banks, Nicole Malliotakis, Christopher Smith, Pete Stauber, Ronny Jackson, Michelle Steel, Beth Van Duyne, James Baird, Mike Carey Organizations: Paramount Global, CBS, PDD Holdings, U.S, Republican, Paramount, Bowl, Chinese Community Party, Uyghur, Labor, Chinese Communist Party, Reps, Ohio . Paramount Locations: U.S, United States, Ohio

☆ Lawmakers ramp up scrutiny of Shein, call for proof it doesn't use forced labor after retailer files for IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lawmakers are ramping up their scrutiny of Shein after it confidentially filed to go public last week. "Urge the SEC to apply maximum scrutiny to Shein's business and management before letting it anywhere near our capital markets," Luetkemeyer said in the video, viewed by CNBC. They include legislation that would block Shein from trading in the U.S. or bar its shipments from coming into the country. Gallagher is also interested in pursuing reforms to the trade loophole known as the de minimis provision and expanding enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the aide said. The committee is investigating Shein over its use of forced labor and de minimis — probes that are ongoing, Luetkemeyer said.

Persons: confidentially, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Shein, Luetkemeyer, let's, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange, CNBC, SEC, Chinese Communist Party, Uyghur, Labor Locations: U.S

The Singapore-based company has not determined the size of the deal or the valuation at IPO. The online fast-fashion retailer, which manufactures most of its merchandise in China, faces criticism that Uyghur forced labor is used to make its low-priced apparel and home goods. Earlier this year, the congresswoman led a bipartisan call for the SEC to halt Shein’s IPO until it verifies that the company does not use forced labor within its supply chain. Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company has previously told Reuters it has “zero tolerance for forced labor” and has no contract manufacturers in Xinjiang. Shein's IPO is "going to be raising issues (for the SEC) that may later be applied across the board to all China-based or China-related companies that are going public," Penick said.

Persons: Chen Lin, Shein confidentially, Shein, Jennifer Wexton, Megan Penick, Robinson, Penick, Republican Sen, Marco Rubio, ”, Rubio, Chris Smith, Smith, ByteDance's TikTok, Group's, Katherine Masters, Arriana, Michael Martina, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Beijing, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Capitol Hill, Republican, Congressional, Commission, Oritain, U.S, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, New York, U.S, Beijing, Washington, China's Xinjiang, Xinjiang, India

In recent years, Shein has gained popularity among U.S. consumers, particularly teenagers and young adults, for its wide variety of low-priced trendy apparel and accessories. But Shein has also faced claims that it has copied designs and unevenly benefited from a U.S. trade rule that allows it to avoid paying custom fees. In April, two members of Congress asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to require Shein, as a condition of its expected offering, to certify through an independent party that it doesn’t use Uyghur forced labor. It has also teamed up with Forever 21, the fast-fashion mall stalwart, which could lead to more Shein apparel in brick-and-mortar locations. In June, a trip that it hosted for influencers at some of its warehouses in China was widely panned on social media as being tone-deaf.

Persons: Shein, ” Shein Organizations: Securities and Exchange Commission, influencers Locations: U.S, Xinjiang, China

HANOI/KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Electronics worth a year-high $74 million, such as solar panels and microchips mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam, were denied entry in the United States in September or were checked for components from forced labour in China, official data show. In September alone, $82 million worth of shipments were either refused or were held for checks -- 90% of which were electronics -- a jump from less than $20 million in August. Over two-thirds of rejected or held cargoes came from Malaysia or Vietnam, which are major exporters to the United States of solar panels and semiconductors. Malaysia and Vietnam have had cargoes worth about $320 million each denied or held for checks since the new rules came into force, nearly three times more than China's. Washington has accused China of genocide against the Uyghurs, with rights groups denouncing a widespread use of internment camps and forced labour.

Persons: Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Kim Coghill Organizations: Industry, Uyghur, Labor, Thomson Locations: HANOI, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Vietnam, United States, China, China's Xinjiang, U.S, Xinjiang, Washington

☆ Shein, the fast fashion darling mulling a U.S. IPO, opens up about forced labor, data privacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

The committee is investigating Shein over concerns that Uyghur forced labor is being used in its supply chain and has gone undetected because of the de minimis provision. The committee has not yet drawn conclusions about forced labor in Shein's supply chain. When asked about claims of forced labor in Shein's supply chain, Claure told CNBC he doesn't "believe those allegations are correct." However, forced labor can still show up in other parts of the supply chain, said Chloe Cranston, the head of thematic advocacy programmes at Anti-Slavery International. In 2022, 11% of audits turned up "zero tolerance violations," including child labor, forced labor and wage violations, and 28 suppliers were terminated as a result, according to the company.

Persons: Elham Ataeiazar, Shein, Donald Tang, Matt Kennedy, they're, they've, Mike Gallagher, Elise Stefanik, Steve Scalise, Chip Somodevilla, we're, Marcelo Claure, Claure, Ralph Lauren, Rupert Hodges, Oritain, Chloe Cranston, Cranston, It's, it's, Shang, Jin Wei, Wei, Austin Knudsen, Chris Xu, Jade Gao, Knudsen, Gary Gensler Organizations: Wall, Bear, Chinese Communist Party, U.S, Renaissance Capital, CNBC, Bloomberg, Nike, Adidas, Republican National Committee, Washington , D.C, D.C, Target, Costco, Visual China, Getty, Workers, Columbia University's, Communist, CCP, Microsoft, AFP, U.S . Securities, Exchange Locations: Bear Stearns, U.S, China, Beijing, Xinjiang, Washington ,, Washington, Singapore, Nanjing, United States, Chinese, Guangzhou, Brazil, Turkey, India, Mexico, Montana

☆ US adds three Chinese companies to forced labor entity list involving Uyghurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The United States has added three Chinese companies to the forced labor entity list involving Uyghurs, according to a government posting on Tuesday, as part of an effort to eliminate forced labor practices the U.S. supply chain. The action targets Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co, Ltd; Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co. Ltd, and Xinjiang Zhongtai Group Co. Ltd, according to the post. A 2021 law, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List (UFLPA), prohibits U.S. imports that are either produced in Xinjiang or by companies identified on the list, unless the importer can prove the goods were not produced with forced labor. The list identifies entities working with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit and transport Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the region. U.S. officials believe Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, China.

Persons: Doina Chiacu, Karen Freifeld, Susan Heavey Organizations: United, Foundation Textile Co, Wool, Co ., Xinjiang Zhongtai, Labor, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Xinjiang, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, U.S, China, Beijing

☆ Canada probing Walmart, Hugo Boss over allegations of forced labor in supply chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Canada's corporate ethics watchdog on Thursday announced investigations into the Canadian units of Walmart (WMT.N) and Hugo Boss (BOSSn.DE) to probe allegations of Uyghur forced labor in the companies' supply chains and operations. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) said it had published an initial assessment report after complaints filed by a coalition of 28 civil society organizations in June 2022. CORE will also investigate the Canadian unit of fashion firm Diesel, which is owned by Italy's OTB (OTB.L). In March, a U.N. committee said it was concerned about China's treatment of its Muslim minority, including the use of forced labor against Uyghurs. CORE was launched in 2019 to monitor and investigate human rights abuses, mainly by Canadian garment, mining and oil and gas companies operating abroad.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Hugo Boss, Italy's OTB, Ralph Lauren, RL.N, Sheri Meyerhoffer, CORE's Ombudsperson, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Responsible Enterprise, Diesel, Nike Canada, CORE, Thomson Locations: Rosemead , California, U.S, China

☆ EV battery imports face scrutiny under US law on Chinese forced labor
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

More than a year of enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) has already stymied development of solar energy projects as detained panel shipments languish in U.S. warehouses. When shipments are detained, CBP provides the importer with a list of examples of products from previous reviews and the kind of documentation required to prove they are not made with forced labor, CBP told Reuters. "The timing of these changes does not reflect any specific changes in strategy or operations," a CBP spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the list of eight product types was "not exhaustive." In a report to Congress last month on UFLPA enforcement, CBP listed lithium-ion batteries, tires, "and other automobile components" among the "potential risk areas" it was monitoring. The stepped-up focus on automakers follows a study by Britain's Sheffield Hallam University published in December that said nearly every major automaker has exposure to products made with forced labor in Xinjiang.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Dan Solomon, Chevalier, Solomon, Britain's, Ron Wyden, Wyden, we've, Tesla, Brandon Daniels, Nichola Groom, David Shepardson, Jan Schwartz, Daniel Leussink, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Beijing, Uyghur, Labor, U.S . Solar Energy Industries Association, Biden, CBP, Miller, Britain's Sheffield Hallam University, U.S, Senate, Benz, Volkswagen, Friedrichshafen AG, Bosch, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Continental AG, Thomson Locations: United States, Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Xinjiang, U.S, Detroit, UFLPA, Los Angeles, Washington, Hamburg, Tokyo

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.

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

OTTAWA, July 11 (Reuters) - Canada's corporate ethics watchdog on Tuesday launched separate investigations into Nike Canada (NKE.N) and Dynasty Gold (DYG.V) to probe allegations that they used or benefited from forced Uyghur labor in their supply chains and operations in China. Nike Canada and Dynasty Gold are alleged to have or have had supply chains or operations in China identified as using or benefiting from the use of Uyghur forced labor, the Ombudsperson said in the statement. In the last couple of years several large U.S. and Canadian multinational companies have been accused of using Uyghur forced labor either directly or in their supply chains. The initial assessment into Nike details supply relationships with Chinese companies identified as using or benefiting from the use of Uyghur forced labor. The complaint against Dynasty Gold is that it benefited from the use of Uyghur forced labor at a mine in China in which the company holds a majority interest.

Persons: Ombudsperson Sheri Meyerhoffer, Ismail Shakil, Divya Rajagopal, Chris Reese, Sandra Maler Organizations: OTTAWA, Nike Canada, Responsible Enterprise, CORE, Reuters, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Nike, Thomson Locations: China, Xinjiang, Beijing, Canadian, Ottawa, Toronto

Goldman Sachs (GS.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) are among the banks helping Shein with its IPO preparation, according to six of the sources. Didi was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) a year later amid Beijing's crackdown on Chinese technology giants over antitrust and data security rules. Shein officials in Singapore, where the company is headquartered, declined to comment on any IPO plans or on discussions with the investment banks and exchanges. Last week, Reuters reported that Shein had filed its IPO registration confidentially with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Shein was valued at more than $60 billion in a $2 billion private fundraising round in March.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Didi Global's, Didi, Shein, Chris Xu, Kane Wu, Julie Zhu, Greg Roumeliotis Organizations: YORK, Shein, New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, JPMorgan, NYSE, Reuters, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, General Atlantic, Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Thomson Locations: China, United States, Singapore, U.S, Beijing, Washington , U.S, Ukraine, China's Xinjiang, Xinjiang, Sequoia Capital China, Nanjing, China's, Jiangsu, Hong Kong, New York

It is also looking to hire a lawyer with a specialty in trade compliance to help Temu create a protocol for screening merchandise, another posting showed. The U.S. House Select Committee on the China Communist Party in May launched an investigation into retailers' connections to forced labor in China's Xinjiang region, including any efforts to comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The committee last week released preliminary findings stating that Temu "does not have any system to ensure compliance" with the act. Temu's 80,000 "suppliers agree to boilerplate terms and conditions that prohibit the use of forced labor," the report said. Rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses including forced labor and placing 1 million or more Uyghurs - a mainly Muslim ethnic group - in internment camps in Xinjiang.

Persons: Temu, Shein, Arriana McLymore, Jamie Freed Organizations: YORK, PDD Holdings, New Zealand, Reuters, U.S, China Communist Party, Uyghur, Labor, Thomson Locations: U.S, Xinjiang, China, Canada, Australia, New, China's Xinjiang, United States, Xingiang, Beijing, New York

☆ Temu reportedly thinks shoppers should be blamed if they buy goods from the site that were produced by forced labor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Online retailer Temu relies on its customers to report when products are made with forced labor. Temu prohibits suppliers from using forced labor, but relies on external reporting to enforce that policy. Lawmakers said there is an extremely high risk that Temu's supply chains are contaminated with forced labor. That makes it difficult to know whether the companies are following the Certa Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which prohibits international imports manufactured by forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang region of China. The investigation concluded that, "American consumers should know that there is an extremely high risk that Temu's supply chains are contaminated with forced labor."

Persons: —, Temu, hasn't Organizations: Temu, Lawmakers, Service, Chinese Communist Party, Customs, Border, Labor Locations: United States, Xinjiang, China, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, American

☆ Shein and Temu are skirting tariff costs by selling their imported merchandise at super-cheap prices, US lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Shein and Temu sell products that are so cheap the companies avoid paying import tariffs. US lawmakers found that these fast-fashion companies are exempt from tariffs on products under $800. So low, in fact, that the companies don't have to pay tariffs when the products are shipped to the US. Lawmakers highlighted the Certa Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) which prohibits international imports manufactured by forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang region of China. Temu's code of conduct prohibits suppliers from using forced labor but does not prohibit them from sourcing products based on region.

Persons: —, Temu, Shein Organizations: Service, Chinese Communist Party, Customs, Labor Locations: China, United States, Xinjiang

☆ Retailers Shein and Temu violate U.S. tariff law and evade human rights reviews on imports, House report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — A House committee exploring economic competition between the U.S. and China on Thursday released a damning report connecting retail giants Shein and Temu to a disproportionate number of import violations. Lawmakers argue the tariff violations give Temu and Shein unfair advantages over U.S. retailers. Both companies have faced allegations of human rights abuses: Shein for alleged forced labor in its supplier factories in the Uyghur region and Temu for allegedly failing to develop compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the committee reported. Temu and Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Temu has previously said it is "not the importer of record with respect to goods shipped to the United States," and Shein has denied allegations of forced labor.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Shein, Mike Gallagher, Temu Organizations: U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Nike, Adidas, Uyghur, Labor, U.S . Customs, Wisconsin Republican, House CCP Committee Locations: China, U.S, Wisconsin, United States

☆ U.S. bans imports from China-based Ninestar Corp over Uyghurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Karen Freifeld | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 9 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday banned imports from China-based printer maker Ninestar Corp (002180.SZ) and a chemical company over alleged human rights abuses in China, according to a post for the Federal Register. DHS said the actions were taken as part of the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA), which was signed into law in December 2021. The act prohibits imports into the U.S. that are either produced in Xinjiang or by companies identified on an UFLPA Entity List, unless the importer can prove the goods were not produced with forced labor. “The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will continue to hold companies accountable for perpetuating human rights violations in Xinjiang,” DHS Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers, who chairs the task force, said in a statement. Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Sharon Singleton and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ninestar, Robert Silvers, Karen Freifeld, Doina Chiacu, Sharon Singleton, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Ninestar, Federal Register, Zhongtai Chemical Co, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Uyghur, Labor, Task Force, Thomson Locations: United States, China, China's, Xinjiang, U.S, Zhuhai

☆ Shein partners with Reliance in major India comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shein is plotting a major comeback in India, nearly three years after it was booted out of the country. The fast fashion giant is partnering with the retail arm of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, a Shein spokesperson confirmed Friday. “We can confirm Shein’s partnership with Reliance Retail and have no additional comment at this time,” a Shein spokesperson said. A powerful partnerIts new partnership with Reliance Retail, which bills itself as the country’s largest retailer, could be a game-changer. Shein has said it doesn’t have any suppliers in the Xinjiang region, and it has zero tolerance for forced labor.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Shein, Mukesh Ambani’s, Shein, Bain, “, Sania Farooqui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Industries, Wall Street, Financial Times, Reliance, Reliance Retail, Burberry, Apple, US Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: Hong Kong, India, Zara, China, Singapore, ”, Washington, Xinjiang, New Delhi

☆ Supply chain scrutiny may upend EU solar ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Western nations are rushing to install more solar panels to reduce their dependency on polluting fossil fuels like gas and oil. Yet a rising legislative tide aimed at ensuring companies’ supply chains are free from forced labour and other abuses presents a mounting challenge for Western utilities. Bernreuter estimates that non-Chinese solar-grade polysilicon is enough to produce 40 gigawatts of solar panels per year. Banned materials include polysilicon, an ultra-pure form of silicon, that is the key raw material used to make solar panels. The European Commission published in February 2022 a draft proposal aimed at forcing companies to better police their global supply chains.

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