U.S. Says Has Evidence of Forced Labor in Chinese Sweetener

The U.S. said it found “conclusive evidence” that a Chinese company used forced labor to make extracts of the sweetener stevia, with American ports now directed to seize any shipments.

Customs and Border Protection has “conclusive evidence” that Inner Mongolia Hengzheng Group Baoanzhao Agriculture, Industry and Trade Co. used convict, forced or indentured labor to make the products and that they are being or are likely to be imported to the U.S., the agency said in a statement Tuesday.