Just as Americans bake their Christmas cakes, sugar imports from the Dominican Republic’s largest sugar maker will be blocked at each and every U. S. port. U. S.
U. S. Customs and Border ProtectionThe U. S. Department of Health and Sugar announced Wednesday that, effective immediately, sugar and sugar products manufactured through Central Romana Corp. They will be detained at ports of access after a firm investigation uncovered evidence of forced labor in their operations. working conditions, wage deductions, excessive overtime and other violations.
“Manufacturers like Central Romana, who comply with our laws, will suffer the consequences as we remove these inhumane practices from U. S. supply chains. “”We are in the U. S. ,” AnnMarie Highsmith, deputy executive commissioner of CBP’s Bureau of Commerce, said in a statement.
Central Romana did not promptly respond to a request for comment, but told The Associated Press in a brief that he won the news with “great astonishment. “
“Over the past decades, we have invested millions of dollars in the functioning and living conditions of our workers in agricultural areas, ensuring living wages and increased benefits, schooling and schooling workshops, as well as education in human rights and the tasks of our workers,” he said.
Sugar costs have already risen more than 14% a year ago, according to government data. Prior to Central Romana’s import ban, the U. S. sugar source was the source of sugar in Central Romana. The U. S. economy had already declined due to declining sugar production and imports, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture. U. S.
That said, most U. S. food companies are able to do so. U. S. officials have already secured their sugar materials for the year, so baked goods, candy and other sugar-laden holiday treats will see immediate price increases as a result of the ban.
“U. S. advertising bakeries. ” “The U. S. has already bought or has contracts to buy sugar through 2023, so this shutdown probably won’t have any effect on holiday cake production,” said Lee Sanders, senior vice president of the American Bakers Association. disrupting a global commodity market may simply push higher costs even higher. “
The order opposing Central Romana is the latest step taken by the United States to address allegations of forced labor and other human rights abuses in imported chains of origin, and Dominican sugar has long been in the crosshairs of regulators. In September, the U. S. The Department of Labor included sugarcane from the Dominican Republic in its list of goods potentially produced through child labor or forced labor.
“The company will continue to establish global leadership through aggressive investigation of allegations of forced hard labor in U. S. origin chains. “”It is “U. S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy Miller,” said Acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Troy Miller.
The International Labour Organization estimates that approximately 28 million international employees suffer in situations of forced labour. Federal law prohibits the importation of goods produced through forced, convicted, or indentured labor, and CBP holds shipments of goods suspected of being imported in violation of that law. law.
Central Romana, which exports more than $100 million a year worth of goods in the United States, has long been accused of subjecting its staff to substandard wages and unsafe conditions. According to a 2021 Washington Post survey, Central Romana staff said they earned about $125 a year. month cutting sugar cane, well below the average monthly salary of the country. The company denied mistreating staff.
In a letter to The Post in 2021, Central Romana said, “Like any socially responsible business, we try to move forward every year and continue to invest in all of our processes, adding business suitability and safety, social, environmental and social aspects. “Fulfillments. Accountability programs.