Palm Oil Import Hold
Two immediate forced-labor detention orders lead a day of customs, sanctions and trade-remedy changes.
CBP has ordered U.S. ports to detain palm oil and derivatives made by two Indonesian producers. OFAC rules tightening Cuba payment and travel permissions also take effect today, and OFAC has added a Tren de Aragua financial network to the SDN List. Organization customs-broker license applications must now be filed through eCBP. USTR has also ended the suspension of liquidation for goods from Mexico’s Akwel Juárez facility. Commerce’s graphite-electrode preliminary determinations are formally published, while separate air-compressor and truck-bed-cover rates remain prospective until October 1 publication.
CBP detains palm oil from two Indonesian producers
CBP issued two Withhold Release Orders on September 29 at 12:00 p.m. EDT covering palm oil and derivative products produced by Mitra Aneka Rezeki (MAR) and Hardaya Inti Plantation (HIP). Effective immediately, personnel at all U.S. ports must detain covered shipments because CBP found evidence reasonably indicating forced labor under 19 U.S.C. § 1307. The order is producer-specific, not an Indonesia-wide palm-oil ban. CBP CSMS #70061795
For detained merchandise, the importer may export or destroy the shipment, or seek to demonstrate that the goods were not produced with forced labor. CBP identified indicators including debt bondage, withheld wages, excessive overtime, abusive conditions, threats and abuse of vulnerability; MAR evidence also included identity-document retention and isolation. CBP release
USTR resumes liquidation for goods from Akwel Juárez
USTR announced that the United States and Mexico resolved the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism matter involving Akwel Juárez México, S.A. de C.V. in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Because the agreed remediation was implemented, USTR notified Treasury that it is no longer directing suspension of liquidation for unliquidated entries of goods from the facility. The earlier suspension dated to November 22, 2024. This is an entry-processing change for Akwel facility goods, not a countrywide change for Mexican imports. USTR September 28 announcement · USTR liquidation letter
Cuba payment, account and travel permissions tighten
OFAC’s amendment to 31 CFR Part 515 is now published and effective. It prohibits specified indirect financial transactions involving Cuba Restricted List entities, removes the general authorization for qualifying U-turn transfers that originate and terminate outside the United States, and removes the account authorization for certain independent Cuban private-sector entrepreneurs. The rule also removes group people-to-people travel and the general authorization for professional meetings or conferences in Cuba. 91 FR 61741
Some pre-September 30 educational travel is grandfathered if at least one qualifying travel transaction was already completed. Persons already in Cuba under the former professional-meetings authorization receive a limited wind-down through October 30, 2026, and cancellation/refund transactions for affected trips are also authorized through that date. Banks may reject newly prohibited U-turn transfers rather than treat that removed authorization as continuing. OFAC regulatory release
A separate, abbreviated 31 CFR Part 516 framework also takes effect today. It implements Executive Order 14404’s blocking criteria and authority to restrict U.S. correspondent or payable-through accounts of a foreign financial institution after a sanctions determination. Publication of the framework is not itself a designation of every person in a listed Cuban sector or every foreign bank. 91 FR 61748
Iran, Sinaloa and Tren de Aragua networks expand screening
On September 29, OFAC sanctioned 10 individuals and entities in multiple jurisdictions for procuring weapons and components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. Treasury warned that certain transactions with the new targets can expose participating foreign financial institutions to secondary sanctions. Separately, OFAC designated 21 individuals and 25 entities tied to Sinaloa Cartel leadership, money laundering, facilitation and corruption networks; property subject to U.S. jurisdiction is blocked and the 50-percent ownership rule applies. Iran procurement action · Sinaloa action · OFAC list update
On September 30, OFAC added nine individuals and two Mexico-based entities tied to Tren de Aragua. Treasury describes a 10-target network linked to ATM “jackpotting” attacks and a separately designated senior leader involved in gold mining, narcotics exports and violent crime. The listings block property subject to U.S. jurisdiction, extend to entities owned 50 percent or more by blocked persons and can create secondary-sanctions exposure for foreign financial institutions involved in certain transactions. OFAC also removed the Patraca/Boutique Patraca business record, the MARAYA/MED PATRON vessel record and the Tatyana/Tayuana Protopovich record. Treasury announcement · September 30 OFAC list update
Also effective September 30, OFAC amended the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations to codify Executive Order 13902 criteria for persons determined to operate in specified Iranian sectors or engage in related significant transactions. The rule preserves stated exemptions for agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices and official United Nations business. It is a regulatory codification, not a new blanket designation of every company in those sectors. 91 FR 61759
Graphite-electrode deposits and retroactive suspension begin
Commerce’s preliminary antidumping determinations for large-diameter graphite electrodes from India and China are formally published today. For India, the subsidy-adjusted cash-deposit rates are 9.88% for Graphite India Limited, 1.15% for HEG Limited and 3.53% for all others. The China-wide entity’s adjusted deposit rate is 95.61%. These are preliminary measures, not final duty liability. India notice · China notice
Commerce preliminarily found critical circumstances for the named Indian groups, India’s all-others group and the China-wide entity. Subject to the notice’s terms, suspension reaches qualifying unliquidated entries entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after July 2, 2026, 90 days before publication. A separate India countervailing-duty critical-circumstances filing was posted September 30 for October 1 publication and likewise requires its own effective-date check. India CVD public-inspection filing
CBP sets 2027 AGOA apparel quota opening rules
CBP’s Quota Bulletin 26-407 covers qualifying apparel under HTS Chapters 61, 62, 64 and 65 and Chapter 98 provisions from designated sub-Saharan African countries. The quota period runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Entries presented after 12:01 a.m. local port time but before 8:30 a.m. EDT on opening day receive an 8:30 a.m. entry time for quota purposes; if an HTS group is over limit then, accepted entries are prorated. CBP CSMS #70064651
CBP’s linked detailed bulletin page was access-denied during verification, so this report does not reproduce numerical limits that could not be independently checked. Confirm the relevant group limit in CBP’s live quota system before filing.
Organization broker-license applications move exclusively to eCBP
Beginning September 30, an organization applying for a customs broker license must complete the application and pay the fee through the eCBP portal. CBP will return applications that are hand-delivered, mailed or emailed on or after that date. Applicants use the same Login.gov account used for the Customs Broker License Exam; eCBP accepts credit and debit cards, adds no payment fee and issues an electronic receipt. Electronic submission does not improve an application’s position in the existing queue. CBP CSMS #70013692, issued September 25 at 9:00 a.m. EDT
Tomorrow’s preliminary rates: air compressors and truck-bed covers
Commerce filed preliminary determinations this morning for publication on October 1. They are useful for preparation but are not September 30 cash-deposit rates. The notices say suspension and deposits begin upon publication, subject to product scope and producer/exporter matching.
| Investigation | Preliminary treatment scheduled for October 1 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressors from Malaysia · CVD | Five named companies and all others: 92.86% (named-company rates based on adverse facts available) | 2026-20166 |
| Air compressors from China · CVD | FNA Zhejiang and all others: 3.84%; listed nonresponsive companies: 112.29% | 2026-20165 |
| Air compressors from Vietnam · CVD | Listed companies: 74.39%; Hybest Vietnam: 0.35% de minimis with no suspension; all others: 37.20% | 2026-20164 |
| Truck-bed covers from China · AD | Adjusted deposits: Golden Sun 51.17%; Tianmao/Chaoming 46.77%; listed separate-rate firms 49.38%; China-wide 107.41% | 2026-20163 |
China non-refillable steel-cylinder orders remain in place
The USITC determined that revoking the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on non-refillable steel cylinders from China would likely lead to continued or recurrent material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. The existing orders therefore remain in place. This determination preserves the orders; it does not announce a new universal cash-deposit rate. USITC News Release 26-141
What to do next
- Hold MAR- or HIP-linked palm-oil entries and collect producer-level traceability before arrival.
- Identify suspended Akwel-facility entries and confirm CBP’s implementation of USTR’s resumption instruction.
- Update Cuba payment, account and travel matrices for the September 30 rule changes and October 30 wind-down date.
- Refresh sanctions screening for the September 29 Iran and Sinaloa actions and the September 30 Tren de Aragua additions and removals, including 50-percent ownership analysis.
- Submit new organization broker-license applications only through eCBP.
- Apply today’s graphite deposit rates only to in-scope merchandise and separately review retroactive critical-circumstances exposure.
- Prepare October 1 AGOA quota filings and prospective AD/CVD changes without treating public-inspection rates as effective early.
FAQ
Does the palm-oil WRO cover every Indonesian producer?
No. CBP names MAR and HIP and covers their palm oil and derivatives; producer-level traceability is therefore essential.
Does the Akwel resolution change liquidation for all Mexican imports?
No. USTR’s instruction concerns unliquidated entries of goods from the named Akwel Juárez facility.
Must a bank block every newly prohibited U-turn transfer?
The Part 515 amendment removes the former processing authorization and authorizes rejection of the affected U-turn transfer; other blocking rules may still apply depending on the parties and property.
Does Part 516 automatically sanction every Cuban-sector company or foreign bank?
No. The framework supplies authorities and procedures; blocking or correspondent-account measures require an applicable determination or listing.
Can an organization broker-license application still be mailed or emailed?
No. CBP says applications hand-delivered, mailed or emailed on or after September 30 will be returned for submission through eCBP.
Primary sources
- CBP palm-oil WRO notice · CBP AGOA quota notice · CBP organization broker-license filing notice
- USTR Akwel resolution · liquidation-resumption letter
- Cuba Part 515 rule · Cuba Part 516 rule · Iran Part 560 rule
- Iran procurement designations · Sinaloa designations · Tren de Aragua designations · September 30 SDN additions and removals
- India graphite AD · China graphite AD
- USITC steel-cylinder review · USITC HTS Archive
This report distinguishes publication, effective and prospective dates. Product scope, producer/exporter matching, quota eligibility, sanctions permissions and entry treatment must be confirmed against the cited legal text and current CBP instructions. This is a research summary, not a filing determination or legal advice.