TMTPOST -- A Chinese industry group has called on international companies to source cotton from Xinjiang following comments by Tadashi Yanai, CEO of Uniqlo’s parent company Fast Retailing Co., stating that the retailer does not use fiber from the region. Yanai’s remarks, made during a BBC interview last week, sparked calls for a boycott of Uniqlo on Chinese social media platforms. The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region’s Cotton Association responded Thursday, urging global brands like Uniqlo to “give Xinjiang cotton full respect and trust” and resume its use to support the global textile industry’s development. The statement was posted on the association’s official WeChat account. The controversy stems from international scrutiny over alleged forced labor practices in Xinjiang, accusations that China has repeatedly denied. The US has imposed trade restrictions on goods from the region, intensifying the debate over Xinjiang-sourced cotton. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of cotton, with over 90% of its domestic output originating in Xinjiang. As the leading exporter of textiles globally, China faces growing competition from countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, where production costs are lower. The appeal highlights the ongoing tensions between international trade policies and China’s efforts to defend its key industries amid rising global competition and scrutiny.