Washington: A report by The New York Times, citing information from the Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), has raised concerns over alleged links between products manufactured by Chinese toy company Pop Mart and forced labour in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The report focuses on Pop Mart’s popular collectible toy line, including its “Labubu” dolls, and alleges that materials used in their production may be sourced from cotton originating in Xinjiang, a region also referred to as East Turkistan by activists. According to CFU, more than 90 per cent of China’s cotton is produced in Xinjiang, where allegations of forced labour and human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims have been widely reported.
“Credible evidence suggests that Pop Mart used Xinjiang cotton linked to Uyghur forced labour for its products entering the US, one of its biggest markets, in a blatant disregard for US law and international human rights order,” CFU founder and executive director Rushan Abbas said in a statement.
The group said it received information from anonymous sources regarding Pop Mart’s supply chain and, after verification, filed a complaint through the US Customs and Border Protection’s Forced Labour Allegation Portal in August 2025. It also coordinated with The New York Times to bring attention to the matter.
The allegations come under the framework of the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA), which presumes that goods produced wholly or partially in Xinjiang are made with forced labour and are therefore barred from entering the United States unless proven otherwise. CFU has alleged that Pop Mart has not provided adequate supply chain transparency or compliance documentation.
The New York Times report also cited reactions from US lawmakers. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, called the allegations “unsurprising and unacceptable”, while Christopher H. Smith, co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said the company must demonstrate that its products sold in the US are not linked to forced labour.
CFU also referenced Pop Mart’s past comments on other companies, including its response to Adidas China’s position on Xinjiang cotton, suggesting inconsistency in the company’s stance on the issue.
Rushan Abbas further drew attention to her personal experience, stating that her sister, Gulshan Abbas, has been missing for years after allegedly being detained in China, and suggested that individuals like her may be connected to forced labour systems.
The organisation has urged the US Department of Homeland Security and the Forced Labour Enforcement Task Force to place Pop Mart on the UFLPA Entity List, which would block its products from entering the US market unless a fully verifiable supply chain is established.
It has also called on retailers, e-commerce platforms, and consumers to suspend purchases of Pop Mart products pending investigation.