Washington DC [US], April 27 (ANI): A New York Times report, based on information from the Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), has raised concerns that materials used in products made by Pop Mart may be linked to forced labour in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, CFU said in a press release.
The article focuses on Pop Mart’s popular collectible toys, including its “Labubu” dolls, and alleges cotton used in their production could originate from Xinjiang, a region CFU notes produces over 90 percent of China’s cotton and where widespread allegations of forced labour and human rights abuses against Uyghurs have been reported.
“Credible evidence suggests that Pop Mart used Xinjiang cotton linked to Uyghur forced labour for its products entering the US, one of its biggest markets, in a blatant disregard for U.S. law and international human rights order,” said Rushan Abbas, founder and executive director of CFU.
CFU said it received information from anonymous sources about Pop Mart’s supply-chain practices, reviewed and verified the material, and filed a complaint through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Forced Labour Allegation Portal in August 2025. The group coordinated with The New York Times to publicize the findings.
The report frames the concerns within the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA), which presumes goods produced wholly or partly in the Uyghur region are made with forced labour and therefore barred from U.S. entry. CFU alleges Pop Mart has not provided adequate transparency, traceability documentation, or evidence of compliance with UFLPA requirements.
U.S. lawmakers cited in the report responded critically. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, called the allegations “unsurprising and unacceptable,” while Christopher H. Smith, co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said Pop Mart must prove its U.S.-sold products are not tied to forced labour.
CFU’s statement also referenced Pop Mart’s previous public stance on actions by Adidas China concerning Xinjiang cotton, noting Pop Mart criticized Adidas China’s allegations as “baseless,” which CFU interprets as indicating possible engagement with suppliers sourcing Xinjiang cotton.
Rushan Abbas invoked a personal connection, referring to her sister Gulshan Abbas, who she says disappeared into China’s prison system years ago, and suggested individuals like her could be part of forced-labour systems linked to cotton production.
CFU urged the Department of Homeland Security and the Forced Labour Enforcement Task Force to add Pop Mart to the UFLPA Entity List, which would bar its products from U.S. entry until the company proves a transparent, verified supply chain free of forced labour. The group also called on retailers, online platforms, and consumers to stop purchasing Pop Mart products and stressed the need to enforce existing laws. (ANI)
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