Intel apologises to China over Xinjiang products and labour directive

US chipmaker responds to backlash after telling its suppliers to avoid region at centre of human rights abuse allegations

The US chipmaker Intel has apologised for telling its suppliers not to source products or labour from Xinjiang, a province that human rights groups and governments including the US allege uses forced labour, after facing a backlash across China.

Intel, which derives more than a quarter of its $80bn (60bn) in annual revenues from the Chinese market, apologised to the people of China and its local partners on Thursday for telling suppliers to avoid the region in accordance with restrictions imposed by multiple governments".