German firm BASF to pull out of Xinjiang after Uyghur abuse claims

Chemicals producer says audits revealed no wrongdoing but recent media reports crossed red line

The German chemicals producer BASF has said it will withdraw from its two joint ventures in Xinjiang, after media reports about alleged human rights abuses relating to its partner company, which BASF's CEO said crossed a red line.

In a statement on Friday, BASF said that while regular due diligence measures including internal and external audits have not found any evidence of human rights violations in the two joint ventures", the recent reports indicate activities inconsistent with BASF's values".