The CCP is Angry at Walmart

Last month, the US enacted a sweeping law prohibiting most imports from the region. Reports of Walmart removing products from its site beginning in early December appear to have irked the CCP.

• Xinjiang is known for farming products, such as cotton and fruit, and mining raw materials used in solar panels – and much of its output is thanks to forced labor.

📸 The big picture: China is Walmart's second-biggest overseas market, accounting for more than $11 billion in revenue last year, and the decision it's facing – bow to the CCP's wishes or lose money – is being increasingly forced upon Western companies.

• Last year, Swedish fashion retailer H&M saw its presence effectively wiped from the internet after being hit by a consumer boycott for stating publicly that it did not source products from Xinjiang. The company experienced a 23% drop in China sales the next quarter.
• Intel faced similar pressure last month after telling its suppliers not to source products or labor from the region. The chipmaker later apologized for "the trouble caused to our respected Chinese customers, partners and the public."