Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
US Customs and Border Protection blocked a shipment of Uniqlo shirts at the Port of Los Angeles in January 2021 under an order aimed at a Xinjiang state-owned group, and in a 10 May 2021 ruling found the company's documents insufficientS1. Fast Retailing said it was disappointed and that its cotton did not come from that groupS1. In July 2021 French anti-terror prosecutors opened an inquiry into Uniqlo France and three other retailersS2. Fast Retailing said none of its production partners were in XinjiangS2. The inquiry was dropped in April 2023 for lack of jurisdictionS3. NGOs filed a new complaint in May 2023S4S5. A judge refused to investigate it in May 2024, and the Paris appeal court confirmed that in February 2025S6. No ruling on the merits was found.
- Also known as
- Uniqlo, Uniqlo France
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Records from
- United States, France
- Current status
- Operating Japanese clothing group that owns Uniqlo. A French inquiry opened in 2021 that named Uniqlo France was dropped in April 2023 for lack of jurisdictionS3. A new complaint filed in May 2023S4S5 ended in a refusal to investigate that the Paris appeal court confirmed in February 2025S6. No later step was found in searches run in October 2026.
Scope. This record covers the 2021 US customs ruling on Uniqlo shirts and the French complaints over Xinjiang cotton. It does not cover other brands named in the same complaints or wider reports on Xinjiang supply chains.
Claims assessed
3 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported63US Customs and Border Protection blocked a shipment of Uniqlo shirts at the Port of Los Angeles in January 2021 and ruled on 10 May 2021 that the company had not shown the shirts were free of forced labour.Press report, May 20213 records citedProduct claims
- Unresolved44Fast Retailing said in July 2021 that none of its production partners were in Xinjiang and in May 2023 that there is no forced labour in its supply chains.Company statement, 17 May 20234 records citedProduct claims
- Outdated71Reuters reported in July 2021 that French prosecutors had opened an investigation into Uniqlo France and three other retailers over suspected concealment of crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.Press report, 2 July 20214 records citedCorporate status
Cases and proceedings
- US Customs and Border Protection and UniqloUS Customs and Border Protection. Regulatory. Not published.Stage: Ruling dated 10 May 2021 upholding the detention.
- CBP finds the documents insufficient to show the shirts were not made in part with forced labourS1
- Complaint by Sherpa and others against Uniqlo France, Inditex, SMCP and SkechersFrench National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (crimes against humanity unit), Paris investigating judge and Paris Court of Appeal investigation chamber. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Inquiry halted on 12 April 2023. The complaint of 16 May 2023 met an order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate in May 2024, confirmed on appeal in February 2025S6. A further complaint was announced.
Responses on record
- Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., May 2021, on US Customs and Border Protection blocked a shipment of Uniqlo shirts at the Port of Los An...
Uniqlo said it was disappointed by the CBP decision and had strong mechanisms to spot rights violations.S1
- Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., 2 July 2021, on Reuters reported in July 2021 that French prosecutors had opened an investigation into Uni...
The company said French authorities had not contacted it and it would cooperate fully if notified.S2
Revision history
- Profile and 3 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S1Tier C U.S. Blocked Uniqlo Shirts on Xinjiang Forced-Labor ConcernsBloomberg (via BloombergQuint). Press report. Not shown. Cites a CBP ruling of 10 May 2021.Reports the detention, the CBP reasoning and the company response. It does not show a ruling number or a byline.
- S3Tier C France drops fashion group probe over Uyghur labourJusticeInfo.net (AFP). Press report. 4 May 2023.Reports the April 2023 closure for lack of jurisdiction. It is not a finding on the facts.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier C Travail forcé des Ouïghours : une plainte en France déclarée irrecevable mais une autre bientôt déposéeFashionUnited (AFP). Press report. 6 February 2025.AFP report with no named reporter. It says the Paris appeal court's investigation chamber confirmed a May 2024 order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate, and that a new complaint was planned. It does not give the court's reasons.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier C France probes fashion retailers for concealing 'crimes against humanity' in XinjiangReuters (via Nippon.com). Press report. 2 July 2021.Report by Benoit Van Overstraeten on the inquiry opening and the Fast Retailing statement. Its status was overtaken in 2023.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S4Tier C Fashion groups face new Uyghur forced labour complaint in FranceJusticeInfo.net (AFP). Press report. 17 May 2023.Reports the new complaint and company denials. It does not report any judicial step after filing.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier C France: NGOs ask investigating judge to open judicial investigation to clarify responsibilities of multinational garment companies allegedly profiting from Uyghurs forced labourBusiness and Human Rights Resource Centre (Libération with AFP). Press report. 17 May 2023.Reproduces an AFP report naming Uniqlo France and quoting Fast Retailing. It does not establish any supply chain fact.