Full Breakdown
Labubu Plush Dolls Contain Xinjiang Cotton, Prompting UFLPA Enforcement Scrutiny
4/25/2026, 9:29:14 PM
Core Event: Xinjiang Cotton Found in Labubu Dolls
Isotopic testing of Labubu plush dolls sold in the United States confirmed Xinjiang cotton in the clothing of 16 of 20 sampled units, a material barred by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Background & Key Players
The Xinjiang region is linked to state-directed forced-labor programs targeting Uyghurs, prompting Congress to pass the 2022 UFLPA. The investigation was commissioned by the Campaign for Uyghurs, reported by The New York Times, and cited by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Pop Mart, a Beijing-based toymaker, produces Labubu; U.S. officials including White House spokesman Kush Desai and former Senator Marco Rubio have responded.
Data & Impact
Testing found Xinjiang cotton in the T-shirts of 16 dolls; the dolls themselves are mainly polyester. Labubu generated $670 million in revenue in H1 2025, driving a 700 % sales surge in the Americas. Retail prices range $20-$40, while limited editions have sold for up to $150,000.
Official Statements
Pop Mart said it will investigate, holds suppliers to high standards, and will replace Xinjiang cotton for U.S. sales. The White House said it continues to monitor forced-labor violations and has opened a Section 301 probe. U.S. Customs declined comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, called the findings “unsurprising and unacceptable.” Rep. Christopher Smith urged Customs to stop imports unless Pop Mart proves the dolls are slave-labor-free. VOC and Dr. Adrian Zenz warned the results show Beijing’s coercion in global supply chains.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Pop Mart says only a small share of its dolls contain cotton, yet testing found Xinjiang cotton in 80 % of sampled units. Because the dolls are assembled in Guangdong and Hebei, it is unclear whether cotton alone triggers a UFLPA ban. Customs has not confirmed enforcement, and no legal ruling exists.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Trump administration continues to monitor for any violations of US law by importers, and has initiated a robust Section 301 investigation into the importation of forced-labor goods by our trading partners,” — Kush Desai, White House spokesman
- “unsurprising and unacceptable.” — Rep. John Moolenaar, R-MI, Chair, House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party
- “Pop Mart should prove that all of its dolls in the United States are slave-labor-free. If they cannot, customs has the authority to stop all Labubu imports, and I will ask them to do so.” — Rep. Christopher Smith, R-NJ, Co-chair, Congressional-Executive Commission on China
- “Independent laboratory testing of 16 of 20 Pop Mart Labubu dolls sold in the U.S. used isotopic testing to trace their cotton directly to Xinjiang — a region where forced labor is systematically embedded in cotton production,” — Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC)
What’s Next
Pop Mart will phase out Xinjiang cotton for U.S. sales. Lawmakers plan hearings on forced-labor imports, and the upcoming U.S.–China diplomatic visit may address UFLPA enforcement.
