US Bans Sugar Imports From Top Dominican Producer Over Forced Labor Allegations – By Sandy Tolan & Michael Montgomery (Mother Jones) / Nov 23, 2022
In an investigation by Reveal and Mother Jones, workers for the Central Romana Corp. spoke of inadequate protective gear, poor medical care, withheld
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The United States will block shipments of raw sugar from a top Dominican producer with close ties to two wealthy Florida businessmen after finding indications of forced labor at its sprawling Caribbean plantation. Sugar from the Central Romana Corp.’s cane fields feeds into the supply chains of major U.S. brands, including Domino and the Hershey Co.
The ban on all imports from Central Romana went into effect today.
“Manufacturers like Central Romana, who fail to abide by our laws, will face consequences as we root out these inhumane practices from U.S. supply chains,” said AnnMarie R. Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner at U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade in a press release.
The company is owned in part by the Florida-based Fanjul Corp., a global sugar and real estate conglomerate.
