POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 18, 2026Miami-Dade

Human rights group requests U.S. import ban on Dominican sugarcane due to forced labor allegations

A human rights organization is calling for a U.S. import ban on sugarcane from the Dominican Republic following a report released Tuesday that documents ongoing forced labor practices on plantations. The Dominican Republic currently exports significant quantities of sugar and related products to the United States, its primary market.

human rightslaborinternational tradeimport policyDominican Republic
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed

Why It Matters

A potential U.S. would directly impact the supply chain for sugar products entering the country and affect trade relations with the Dominican Republic.

Key Facts

  • A human rights group released a report on Tuesday alleging forced labor persists on sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic.
  • The Dominican Republic is the largest exporter of sugar and related products to the United States.
  • The human rights group is formally requesting that the U.S. government implement an import ban on these products.

Who's Mentioned

personMarco Rubio“U.S. Secretary of State; noted for ties to the company's owners.”locationUnited States“The primary market for Dominican sugar exports and the target of the requested i”organizationCentral Romana Corporation, Ltd.“Largest employer and landowner in the Dominican Republic; subject of the labor a”other173,700“Total acreage of the sugarcane fields.”organizationU.S. Customs and Border Protection“Previously investigated Central Romana for labor abuses.”other8,000“Estimated number of workers on the plantations.”organizationFanjul Corp.“Florida-based owner of Central Romana and Florida Crystals.”locationDominican Republic“The country where the alleged forced labor is occurring and the source of sugar ”organizationCorporate Accountability Lab“Nonprofit human rights group that authored the report.”personDonald Trump“U.S. President; noted for ties to the company's owners.”