U.S. Clarifies On Marange Diamonds Ban

The United States of America said that it has not banned the importation of rough diamonds from Marange, Zimbabwe.

US Embassy spokesperson, Stacy Lomba, on Wednesday stated that a Withhold Release Order (WRO) is not a ban on Zimbabwe’s rough diamonds but that importers have to prove that their diamonds are not mined with forced labour. She said:

WRO is not a ban on imports of artisanal rough diamonds from Zimbabwe. Rather, importers who contend that their particular diamonds were not mined with forced labour can submit evidence to CBP that supports their contention in accordance with our laws.

On 30 September 2019, the United States issued a Withhold Release Order preventing the importation of rough diamonds from Marange. Washington banned the diamonds alleging that they were produced using forced labour.

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