Thermo Fisher, a U.S. biotech corporation, will stop selling DNA testing products in Tibet for several reasons.
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Thermo Fisher Halts DNA Kit Sales in Tibet Amid Growing U.S. Concerns
The corporation took a similar move in 2019 about Xinjiang. Congress is increasingly concerned about China’s human rights record and the use of American products for mass spying.
Thermo Fisher’s choice comes amid concerns that China is collecting Tibetan DNA. The Chinese Embassy in Washington denied these charges, saying China safeguards its citizens’ privacy regardless of ethnicity.
Thermo Fisher’s action highlights U.S. corporations’ increased scrutiny in China. The Biden administration prioritizes national security, human rights, and sustainable economic cooperation with China. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stressed human rights instruments after the administration prohibited U.S. investments in sensitive technologies last August. Xinjiang-made goods employing forced labor are banned in the U.S. Beijing claims the U.S. is exploiting human rights to slow China’s rise.
Thermo Fisher Halts DNA Kit Sales in Tibet, Faces Calls for Further Action
Thermo Fisher said it stopped selling human identification goods in Tibet in mid-2023 to emphasize forensic applications. Lawmakers and rights campaigners applauded the decision but pushed the firm to proceed. Some feared these products would fund the Chinese government’s monitoring infrastructure if sold elsewhere in China. Congressman Mike Gallagher proposed halting the sale of all DNA collection kits to China, while Congressman Chris Smith requested the Commerce Department to restrict American corporations from working with China’s police and security.
Human Rights Watch applauded Thermo Fisher but urged the company to take further measures to prevent widespread surveillance from devices sold elsewhere in China. With business practices and human rights concerns under scrutiny, corporations navigating U.S.-China relations confront a larger challenge.
