Urgent Call to Block Brazilian Coffee Imports Tainted by Forced Labor

A nonprofit watchdog group has petitioned the U.S. government to halt coffee imports from Brazil, citing forced labor and human trafficking practices that fuel a modern slavery crisis in the industry.

On April 24, 2025, a significant development emerged in the ongoing fight against forced labor in the coffee sector. The nonprofit organization Coffee Watch has filed a formal petition with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, urging the government to prohibit imports of Brazilian coffee produced under conditions described as modern slavery. The call highlights a systemic issue impacting millions and implicates major retailers, notably Starbucks, Nestle, and Dunkin’.

Etelle Higonnet, the founder of Coffee Watch, stressed that this problem isn't limited to a handful of offenders but rather involves an entrenched network that subjects workers to extreme poverty and, in many cases, outright slavery. The petition specifically asks for a ban on any coffee imports that “wholly or in part” depend on forced labor or human trafficking.

This petition follows a recent class-action lawsuit filed against Starbucks by International Rights Advocates, representing eight Brazilian workers who endured life-threatening labor conditions while working for a supplier to Starbucks, as well as regional cooperative Cooxupé. Human rights attorney Terry Collingsworth, who founded the advocacy group, emphasized the need for accountability from Starbucks, linking the company to the extensive network of trafficking and forced labor practices prevalent in Brazil.

As the world’s leading coffee producer, Brazil's practices are raising critical questions about ethical sourcing and corporate responsibility, prompting urgent discussions about the integrity of consumer products linked to human rights violations.