Already a subscriber?US, German and other manufacturers opposed to China’s solar industry believe human rights abuses are a clear issue. Achieving a just transition to green energy requires all nations to protect the wellbeing of workers.
Companies bear the onus of assessing their supply chains and proving that products entering the US market are not tainted by forced labour. This has introduced a significant regulatory burden to the solar industry, with the US legislation applying to goods made wholly or even partly in Xinjiang. Indeed, senior EU figures have encouraged European companies to distance themselves from Xinjiang if they have any doubt about labour violations. Such concerns about China give economies an excuse to try and strengthen their own market share in the growing solar industry — something Australia is seeking to do.