Paris: China announced on Monday that it has lodged "representations" with the United States concerning an ongoing investigation into alleged forced labor practices. This protest was filed amid high-level trade discussions taking place in Paris.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce issued a statement urging the United States to correct its "erroneous practices" and engage in dialogue based on mutual respect and equal consultation. The statement emphasized the importance of finding a solution through dialogue and consultation.

The US has initiated a Section 301 investigation targeting alleged forced labor practices among its top trading partners, including China, Canada, the European Union, and Mexico, along with several other countries. This announcement coincides with ongoing talks between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Paris, which began on Sunday and are set to last three days.

China's Ministry of Commerce expressed its intention to closely monitor the US investigation and reserved the right to take necessary measures to defend its rights and interests. The ministry rejected the claims of forced labor, labeling them as "fabricated" and criticized their use as a pretext for imposing trade restrictions on Chinese products.

China reiterated its opposition to forced labor, highlighting its status as a founding member of the International Labour Organization and its ratification of 28 international labor conventions. The ministry accused the US of politicizing the issue and noted that Washington has not ratified the 1930 Forced Labor Convention.

The US probe raises concerns that forced labor practices may provide foreign producers with an unfair price advantage. While some countries have implemented measures to curb forced labor imports, a UN filing indicated that these measures have not been fully enforced.