US’ Xinjiang law puts Chinese businesses in crosshairs, forcing them to take sides in political maelstrom

Ever since US President Joe Biden signed the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act into law last month, the apparel industry in China’s manufacturing hub of Guangdong province has been engulfed in a haze of uncertainty and, for some, panic.

Even though they are located about 3,300km (2,000 miles) away from Xinjiang – the far-west region of China that has become embroiled in international controversies in recent years – exporters and factory owners in the southern coastal province are already bearing the brunt of the new law, which looks to have sweeping implications on global trade.