TOKYO: Japan’s Fast Retailing Co. said Wednesday it is regrettable that the United States blocked imports of Uniqlo brand shirts over concerns related to cotton from China’s Xinjiang Uighur region.

The Customs and Border Protection confiscated the shirts at the Port of Los Angeles for allegedly violating a ban on cotton products linked to suspected forced labor in the Chinese autonomous region.

In a statement, Fast Retailing said it has confirmed that there are no serious human rights problems, such as the use of forced labor, in its supply chains.

Fast Retailing also said its group only uses cotton products confirmed to be free of any such problems.

The company said it has submitted all evidence it can present to show that Uniqlo products meet import regulations set by the US government.

But the CBP confiscated the shirts, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

Among other Japanese companies, Ryohin Keikaku Co., which runs the Muji brand clothing and household goods stores, has said that its products use Xinjiang cotton.

Apparel maker Sanyo Shokai Ltd. has also admitted the use of Xinjiang cotton in products under some brands, adding that it is seeking alternative materials.

JIJI Press