CBP Faces Scrutiny Over Forced Labor Ban Reversal on Dominican Sugar
CBP's 2025 lift of a forced labor ban on Dominican sugar draws renewed watchdog scrutiny.
Why it matters: This case highlights challenges in enforcing forced labor laws and its impact on U.S. trade policy and corporate compliance.
- In 2022, CBP issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Central Romana for forced labor.
- The 2025 WRO lift under the Trump administration allowed imports despite allegations.
- A 2026 report found forced labor practices continued on Central Romana plantations.
- Senator Ron Wyden demands CBP records on the WRO reversal amid political influence concerns.
In November 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Central Romana Corporation Ltd., a major sugar producer in the Dominican Republic, citing five indicators of forced labor including wage withholding and abusive conditions, according to a CBP report.
The WRO aimed to block sugar imports from Central Romana into the U.S., reinforcing longstanding prohibitions against forced labor in supply chains. However, in 2025, the Trump administration lifted the WRO, reopening the U.S. market to Central Romana's sugar products, as detailed by Associated Press.
Despite the lift, concerns linger. In August 2026, the Corporate Accountability Lab published a report confirming ongoing forced labor practices at Central Romana’s sugarcane plantations, suggesting enforcement gaps persist.
These developments have triggered political queries from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, who requested documentation from CBP regarding the decision to revoke the WRO. He voiced apprehensions about potential political interference affecting the agency’s trade enforcement integrity, stating the importance of preventing forced labor products from entering American supply chains (AP News).
Parallel to this case, the U.S. Trade Representative in June 2026 found that 60 economies, the Dominican Republic among them, failed to enforce bans on forced labor goods effectively, prompting the proposal of additional tariffs. Following that, President Trump signed a memorandum imposing duties of 10–12.5% on imports from these nations (USTR report June 2026, USTR fact sheet July 2026).
This sequence of events emphasizes the complex legal and regulatory challenges in enforcing forced labor prohibitions, the role of political influence, and the implications for trade compliance and corporate responsibility.
By the numbers:
- 5 forced labor indicators identified by CBP in 2022 in Central Romana operations
- 2025 year when CBP lifted the Withhold Release Order on Central Romana
- 60 economies, including the Dominican Republic, failed to enforce forced labor import bans as of June 2026
- 10–12.5% additional tariffs imposed on imports from these economies in July 2026
Yes, but: The precise reasons for CBP's 2025 lifting of the WRO remain unclear, and CBP or administration responses to Senator Wyden's inquiries have not been disclosed.
What's next: Senator Wyden's ongoing requests for detailed CBP documentation may prompt Congressional oversight or reforms in trade enforcement policy regarding forced labor.