CBP faces questions over lifting Dominican sugar import ban
A watchdog report says forced labor continues in Dominican sugarcane fields, prompting a senator to question CBP's lifting of an import ban on Central Romana.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is facing renewed scrutiny after a watchdog group reported that forced labor conditions persist in the Dominican Republic's sugarcane industry, a major supplier of sugar to the American market.
The development follows a 2022 decision by the agency to ban imports from Central Romana Corporation, Ltd., citing allegations of worker isolation, withheld wages, and abusive working and living conditions. That ban was reversed last year, a move that drew criticism at the time and has now resurfaced.
The nonprofit Corporate Accountability Lab released a report on Tuesday, based on more than three years of investigation, concluding that forced labor remains a problem in the sector.
In response, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon sent a letter to Customs and Border Protection on Thursday demanding documents and explanations regarding the reversal. He accused the agency of appearing to have "abruptly abandoned its own established administrative procedures."
Wyden argued that bypassing standard trade enforcement for politically connected, billionaire-owned companies undermines the integrity of U.S. trade policy. He also stressed the importance of keeping trade enforcement free from political interference so that forced labor does not enter supply chains of goods purchased by American businesses and consumers.
The senator has requested administrative records, final recommendations, and other materials related to the case. The agency has acknowledged the request but has not yet commented.