US Lawmakers Query Shein, Adidas, Nike And Temu Over Forced Labour Red Flags

Rep. Mike Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi  Chairman and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, yesterday sent letters to Nike, Adidas, Shein, and Temu citing concerns about the companies' alleged continued use of Uyghur forced labour in their supply chains despite the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) which outlawed this practice.

In a letter to the companies, these U.S. lawmakers requested information on the measures they have taken to identify and prevent forced labour in their supply chains, as well as their due diligence efforts and actions to address any violations. 

In addition to concerns about forced labour, the representatives wrote to Chinese companies Shein and Temu with concern that the companies may be using the de minimis loophole in U.S. trade law as a way to skirt the UFLPA and continue selling goods under $800 made with Uyghur forced labour to American consumers.

“Using forced labour has been illegal for almost a hundred years—but despite knowing that their industries are implicated, too many companies look the other way hoping they don’t get caught, rather than cleaning up their supply chains. This is unacceptable,” said Rep. Gallagher. “American businesses and companies selling in the American market have a moral and legal obligation to ensure they are not implicating themselves, their customers, or their shareholders in slave labor. Our message to industry in these letters is clear: either ensure your supply chains are clean — no matter how difficult it is — or get out of countries like China implicated in forced labour.”

“The American people deserve to know how much of what they’re wearing was produced by forced labour in China. We’ve heard from victims about the brutality of forced labour camps that are part of the CCP’s ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China. These companies need to show that they’re following the law, and that their supply chains are free from forced labor. This is just the first step of our investigation. I look forward to working with Chairman Gallagher to shine a light on how forced labor may contaminate our supply chains, and how we need to put an end to this going forward," said Rep. Krishnamoorthi.

"The American people deserve to know if what they’re wearing was produced by forced labour in China. That's why our committee sent letters to Nike, Adidas, TEMU, and Shein. Americans need to trust that their supply chains are free from forced labour", said Select Committee on the CCP Democrats.

The letter follows recent reports of forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China, where a significant amount of cotton and other raw materials used by these brands are sourced. The companies have been given a deadline of May 20 to respond to the letter.