Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai is facing calls for a consumer boycott in China after stating in a BBC interview that Uniqlo does not use cotton from China’s Xinjiang region. This marks the first time Yanai has directly addressed the contentious issue, having previously maintained neutrality between the US and China. Despite the potential backlash, Yanai remains bullish on China expansion, stating plans to increase Uniqlo’s store count from the current 900-1,000 to 3,000. The company maintains more stores in China than in its home market of Japan, and China remains Uniqlo’s largest manufacturing hub. The statement comes as global fashion retailers face increasing pressure to be transparent about their supply chains, particularly regarding Xinjiang cotton, which has faced allegations of forced labor – claims that Beijing has consistently denied.