BEIJING: The accusations of forced labor in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are completely against the facts, said the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday, responding the latest move that the U.S. blacklisted another five Chinese firms alleging human rights abuses.
The U.S.’s “bullying acts” and trade protectionism on the pretext of human rights issues damage the international trade order and disrupt global industrial and supply chains, said Gao Feng, spokesperson for the MOFCOM. China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legal interests of its enterprises and institutions, he added.
The Biden administration restricted exports to five Chinese entities on Wednesday including Hoshine Silicon Industry Co., Xinjiang Daqo New Energy Co., Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals Co., Xinjiang GCL New Energy Material Co., and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, over forced labor allegations.
The U.S. Commerce also ordered a ban on U.S. imports of a key solar panel material – polysilicon – from Hoshine Silicon Industry, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Responding to investors’ requests, the Shanghai-listed company said the firm does not export industrial silicon to the U.S. directly, and its production and operation are as usual.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN
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