A recent study reveals that 19 per cent of products sold by US and global retailers in the past year contained traces of banned Chinese cotton, underscoring the ongoing struggle to adhere to US regulations aimed at preventing imports linked to forced labor in China.

Conducted by researchers from natural resource analytics and testing firms Stratum Reservoir and Applied DNA Sciences, the study analyzed garment samples, cotton swabs, and shoes from major retailers and e-commerce platforms. The retailers involved were not disclosed.

Employing isotopic testing, experts traced cotton origins by analyzing stable element concentrations. The focus was on Xinjiang, China's major cotton-producing region, amidst allegations of human rights abuses.

Despite US legislation enacted in 2021 to curb such imports, the study suggests ongoing challenges. A federal report indicates Xinjiang cotton accounted for a significant portion of China's production and global supply. Notably, countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, major cotton producers, import finished fabric from China, often leading to US distribution.

Of the 822 products tested, 19 per cent contained Xinjiang cotton. Alarmingly, 57 per cent of these items falsely claimed US origin, while two-thirds blended Xinjiang cotton with materials from other regions.

Applied DNA Sciences, one of the testing firms, refrained from disclosing specific brands or retailers but emphasized sourcing within the US and from e-commerce brands catering to the country.