US urged not to obstruct normal trade

Ministry calls using excuses invented about Xinjiang 'blatant hegemonic act'

China urged the United States on Tuesday to stop disrupting normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries' companies under the pretext of issues related to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, saying that it will take all necessary measures to protect its companies' legitimate rights and interests.

The US Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday new restrictions on imports of cotton, apparel, hair products and technology goods from certain Chinese companies, claiming that those entities had used forced labor in Xinjiang to make their products.

"Using the so-called forced labor issue as an excuse to put restrictions on related Chinese companies, the US side violates rules of international trade and disrupts global industrial, supply and value chains," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. "It is a blatant hegemonic act and China firmly opposes it."