Britain is set to announce plans outlawing the importation of goods suspected of using forced labour in China’s Xinjiang province, media reported on Monday, in a move which would further strain ties between London and Beijing.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to reveal his plans, which are also set to include tougher laws on exporting goods or technology that could be used for repression, to MPs this week, according to The Sun and Guardian newspapers.
Britain and China’s relationship has grown increasingly frosty over the last two years, particularly over London’s criticism of the crackdown on democracy campaigners in Hong Kong and its offer of citizenship for its residents.