China Threatens Sanctions on Calvin Klein Owner Over Xinjiang Cotton Boycott Amid Uyghur Muslim Rights Concerns

China has initiated an investigation into PVH Corp., the parent company of well-known fashion brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, over allegations of a boycott against cotton sourced from the Xinjiang region. 

This investigation, announced by the Ministry of Commerce, poses serious risks for the American fashion retailer, which has significant business operations in China. 

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce alleges that PVH has adopted “discriminatory measures” against Xinjiang cotton, a product heavily scrutinized due to widespread reports of forced labor involving Uyghurs and other Muslim-majority ethnic groups. 

“The U.S. PVH Group is suspected of violating normal market trading principles and unreasonably boycotting Xinjiang cotton and other products without factual basis, seriously damaging the legitimate rights and interests of relevant Chinese companies and endangering China’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” said Commerce Ministry of China. PVH has been given 30 days to submit documentation related to its purchasing practices concerning Xinjiang cotton over the past three years. If the company fails to comply or is found to have violated any regulations, it could be placed on China’s “unreliable entities list.” 

Cullen Hendrix, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, noted that "China is asserting its influence and reminding Western businesses that actions can have consequences." 

A statement from PVH emphasized, “We maintain strict compliance with all relevant laws and regulations in all countries and regions in which we operate.” 

The context of this investigation is particularly critical, as reports indicate that Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims have been detained in what the Chinese government refers to as “re-education camps.” 

Human rights organizations describe these facilities as internment or concentration camps, where detainees face indoctrination, torture and forced labor. 

According to the U.S. State Department's 2018 International Religious Freedom Report, “up to 2 million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim-majority ethnic groups have been detained since 2017,” enduring “forced disappearance, torture, physical abuse, and prolonged detention without trial.” 

For many within the global Muslim community, the situation in Xinjiang is an urgent human rights crisis. With reports indicating that over one million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained and subjected to abuse, these allegations are deeply concerning. 

The systematic oppression faced by these Muslim ethnic groups, including the erasure of their cultural and religious identity, resonates profoundly. “This isn’t just a political issue; it’s a humanitarian crisis,” says one advocate. 

The Uyghurs have faced intense surveillance, restrictions on religious practices, and forced assimilation policies, highlighting the urgent need for international solidarity and advocacy against these violations.