Yokohama Tire Entries: Liquidation Suspended
USTR invoked the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism and directed suspension of liquidation for all unliquidated entries of goods from one Coahuila facility.
In a facility-specific action dated September 25, USTR requested Mexico's review of alleged labor-rights denials at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mexico in Coahuila and directed Treasury to suspend liquidation of all unliquidated entries of goods from that facility. The action was not included in the preceding edition and is published here as a catch-up because it directly changes entry administration.
USTR requests Mexico's review and directs a liquidation hold
USTR invoked Article 31-A.4.2 of the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism after finding sufficient, credible evidence to request a review of alleged denials of freedom of association and collective-bargaining rights at the Yokohama facility.
The allegations include unequal treatment of union supporters, access restrictions on union delegates, irregularities surrounding a representation vote, dismissals linked to union activity and alleged failure to apply the rubber industry's sectoral collective agreement. These are allegations under review; the September 25 request is not a final finding that a denial of rights occurred.
Separately, USTR directed Treasury under section 752(a) of the USMCA Implementation Act to suspend liquidation for all unliquidated entries of goods from the covered facility.
Official materials: USTR announcement · request for review · liquidation-suspension direction.
The controlling phrase is “all unliquidated entries of goods from the Facility”
The Treasury direction does not provide an HTS list or limit the hold to entries made on or after September 25. Its text instead reaches all unliquidated entries of goods from the named Coahuila facility. That means the operational screen is facility provenance plus liquidation status.
USTR says the facility produces tires, but the direction itself uses “goods from the Facility.” Importers should not replace that wording with an assumed tire-only HTS list, and they should not extend the action to unrelated Mexican plants, distributors or other Yokohama facilities without evidence linking the goods to the covered plant.
Mexico's response starts the next stage; the hold remains until USTR ends it
| Stage | Official timing | Compliance meaning |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. request and Treasury direction | September 25, 2026 | Liquidation is suspended for covered unliquidated entries. |
| Mexico decision whether to review | Within 10 days | Watch for Mexico's acceptance or refusal; do not assume an outcome. |
| Review if accepted | USTR states 45 days from September 25 | The review may lead to remediation, further enforcement or termination of the hold. |
| End of suspension | No fixed date in the direction | The hold continues until USTR notifies Treasury that the applicable statutory condition has been met. |
Deadline calculations and later procedural extensions should be verified against any subsequent USTR, Treasury or CBP notice.
Identify the plant, preserve the record and monitor liquidation
- Map the facility: confirm manufacturer name, plant address and production site for Mexican-origin Yokohama tire entries; supplier and seller names alone may not establish the factory.
- Find open entries: review ACE liquidation status for entries tied to the Coahuila facility, including earlier entries that remain unliquidated.
- Preserve evidence: retain purchase orders, commercial invoices, packing lists, production records and manufacturer affidavits that support—or disprove—facility linkage.
- Keep ordinary filing rules in place: continue reporting the correct HTSUS, value, origin, duties and any otherwise applicable Chapter 99 or AD/CVD provisions; the USTR direction did not create a new rate.
- Watch the implementation chain: monitor USTR for the Mexican response and case outcome, Treasury/CBP for operational instructions, and ACE for liquidation-status changes.
Trade compliance FAQ
Are goods from the facility banned from entry?
No. The official action suspends liquidation; it does not announce an import ban or exclusion order.
Does the hold apply only to entries filed after September 25?
The direction does not say that. It covers all unliquidated entries from the facility, so earlier entries that have not liquidated may be affected.
Does this create an additional duty?
No new tariff or cash-deposit rate is stated. Continue applying all otherwise applicable duties and filing rules.
Is every Mexican Yokohama tire covered?
No such company-wide or country-wide scope was announced. Coverage is tied to the named Coahuila facility.
What happens next?
Mexico must state within 10 days whether it will conduct a review. If accepted, USTR says the review is to be completed within 45 days from September 25; later official notices will determine the case outcome and when the hold ends.
Primary sources and verification status
The USTR release, review request and Treasury direction establish the new facility-specific action. The mandatory implementation sources were also checked: no later White House trade action, public CBP filing instruction or USITC HTS revision was found for this measure in the review window.