U.S. “withhold release order” regarding certain sugar-based products produced in Dominican Republic (forced labor)

CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain certain raw sugar and sugar-based products produced in the Dominican Republic.

Certain sugar-based products produced in Dominican Republic (forced labor)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today issued a “withhold release order” on certain raw sugar and sugar-based products produced in the Dominican Republic.

According to the CBP release, the withhold release order is based on information that “reasonably indicates” the use of forced labor in a Dominican corporation’s operations. CBP identified five of the International Labour Organization’s 11 indicators of forced labor during its investigation.

Effective November 23, 2022, CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain certain raw sugar and sugar-based products produced in the Dominican Republic.



For more information, contact a professional with KPMG’s Trade & Customs services:

Doug Zuvich
Partner and Global Practice Leader
E: dzuvich@kpmg.com

John L. McLoughlin
Principal and East Coast Leader
E: jlmcloughlin@kpmg.com

Andy Siciliano
Partner and National Practice Leader
E: asiciliano@kpmg.com

Steve Brotherton
Principal and Global Export and Sanctions Leader
E: sbrotherton@kpmg.com

Luis (Lou) Abad
Principal, Washington National Tax
E: labad@kpmg.com

Irina Vaysfeld
Principal
E: ivaysfeld@kpmg.com

Amie Ahanchian
Principal
E: aahanchian@kpmg.com

Christopher Young
Principal
E: christopheryoung@kpmg.com

Gisele Belotto
Principal
E: gbelotto@kpmg.com

George Zaharatos
Principal
E: gzaharatos@kpmg.com

Andy Doornaert
Managing Director
E: adoornaert@kpmg.com

Jessica Libby
Principal
E: jlibby@kpmg.com

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