Sanctions on Xinjiang cotton use opposed

High-quality cotton

China is the world's second-largest cotton producer, and Xinjiang is the largest cotton-producing area in the country. The region is well known for its premium, long-fiber cotton, which is popular in domestic and global markets.

Xinjiang manufactured 5.2 million metric tons of cotton during the 2020-21 season — about 87 percent of the nation's total production. More than 50 percent of farmers in Xinjiang grow cotton, and over 70 percent of these farmers are members of ethnic minority groups including Uygur, Kazak and Hui.

The region's cotton and textile industry has created jobs for more than 600,000 people, according to a statement released on Thursday by the China Cotton Association.