Several clothing brands, including H&M and Nike, are facing a backlash on social media in China, following their decision to stop sourcing cotton from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The brands, all members of the "Better Cotton Initiative" program, cited concerns over reports on what some Western countries claimed "forced labor" in Xinjiang. Such allegations have been repeatedly dismissed by Chinese authorities as "lies" and a smear campaign against its anti-terrorism efforts in the region. Companies including Anta Sports have announced their withdrawal from the "BCI" program, following the group's decision to suspend licensing of BCI cotton from Xinjiang. The "Better Cotton Initiative" is partly funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.