Correspondence
Email sent to the contact address for Young Ocean Market.
The email said: "We're contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s food processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a company engaged in such practices and your supply chain – Dandong Taifeng Foodstuff. According to our research, Pacific American Fish Company (PAFCO) provides seafood products under its ‘Pacific Surf’ and ‘Oceankist’ brands to Young Ocean Market. Trade data seen by The Outlaw Ocean Project shows that PAFCO was the consignee for dozens of shipments of seafood from a Chinese company called Dandong Taifeng Foodstuff since 2017. We have uncovered evidence that Dandong Taifeng Foodstuff used North Korean labor after the December 2019 deadline for the repatriation of overseas North Korean workers required under United Nations Security Council sanctions. This evidence shows North Korean labor at Dandong Taifeng’s factory in Liaoning, China, as recently as 2023. Furthermore, under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), passed in 2017, the U.S. prohibits the import of any goods produced by North Korean nationals unless clear and convincing evidence is provided that indicates the materials were not made with forced labor. While we understand that you may not be aware of the above issues, does Young Ocean Market have any comment to make in response to this email?"