“There is no country around the globe where this crime [of state-sponsored forced labour] is committed so forcefully as in the People’s Republic of China and in the Xinjang autonomous region in particular,” said Reinhard Bütikofer, a green EU lawmaker who spoke at a conference convened by the European Solar Manufacturers Council (ESMC) in Brussels on Thursday (15 February).
“What they do is clearly in a league of its own,” added the German lawmaker, who is among a group of MEPs sanctioned by the Chinese government for being critical of Beijing.
EU institutions are currently set to start negotiations on a forced labour regulation, proposed in 2022 – a law that could translate the widespread practices in China into what may amount to a ban on Chinese solar modules.
The US adopted a similar law in 2022 – which led to the Volkswagen cars stuck in port.
As far as I’ve read China is systematically discriminating against foreign companies via a biased justice system. To a lesser degree countries like the US do it as well.
Applying strict human rights standards could be a great way to counteract against these discrimiantions. Not just from China, even some American practices might be enough.