October 14, 2026 · United States trade compliance
Mexico textile entries face a liquidation hold; Japan hot-rolled steel deposit rates change
The United States suspended liquidation of unliquidated goods from one Mexican automotive-textile factory on October 13. Final company-specific antidumping rates for Japanese hot-rolled steel take effect on October 14. A newly sanctioned Nuevo Laredo trucking company also calls for counterparty screening. These are separate actions with different legal effects. USTR announcement · Commerce final results · OFAC list update
USMCA labor review: one Mexican textile factory’s entries remain unliquidated
On October 13, USTR asked Mexico to investigate alleged denial of freedom of association and collective-bargaining rights at Carolina Performance Fabrics in Salvatierra, Guanajuato. The factory makes specialized high-performance textiles for the automotive industry. The USTR directed Treasury to suspend liquidation of all unliquidated entries of goods produced at that facility. Liquidation is CBP’s final duty calculation; suspension postpones that final step. The announcement does not say imports from the factory are banned or that a new tariff rate applies. USTR release, October 13 · Review request · Liquidation-suspension letter
Mexico has 10 days to say whether it will conduct the review. If it agrees, the USMCA procedure gives it 45 days from October 13 to complete the review. Importers should identify entries tied to the named facility and retain producer documentation while monitoring the case, rather than applying the hold to every Mexican textile shipment. USTR case notice
Japan hot-rolled steel: final antidumping rates effective October 14
Commerce published final results for its 2023–24 review on October 14. The new cash-deposit rates apply to subject goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after that publication date. The Nippon Steel group received 13.96%; Tokyo Steel received 0.00%; listed companies not individually examined received 13.96%. The separate all-others rate remains 5.58%. These figures are tied to the named producer-exporter or applicable rate hierarchy, not to every Japanese steel shipment. 91 FR 65177, published October 14
OFAC adds Nuevo Laredo carrier to blocked-person list
OFAC designated four individuals and 11 entities connected to Cartel del Noreste on October 13. The additions include TAMEX LOGISTICS, also known as Tamex Leasing, a Nuevo Laredo trucking company identified on the SDN list with SCAC TLOJ and Mexican carrier identifier CAAT 7547. OFAC also listed dispatcher Francisco Javier Inzunza Partida. Treasury says U.S.-nexus property of blocked persons is frozen and its 50% ownership rule applies; absent an authorization or exemption, U.S. persons generally cannot transact in blocked property. OFAC designations, October 13 · Treasury release
Importers, brokers and transport providers using Nuevo Laredo lanes should screen their carriers and counterparties against the new names. The designation is a sanctions action; Treasury did not announce a port closure or a general embargo on trucking through Nuevo Laredo. Treasury sanctions implications
Other published trade-remedy developments
The USITC made an affirmative preliminary injury finding for linear hydraulic cylinders from Canada, China, India, Mexico and South Korea on October 14. The notice identifies HTSUS 8412.21.00 and 8412.90.90 as provisions for the investigated merchandise. This allows the investigations to proceed; it is not a final injury finding or a new duty order. USITC determination, 91 FR 65258
Commerce also formally continued the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on prepackaged boltless steel shelving from China in a notice published October 14, with an September 29 applicable date. CBP continues collecting deposits at the rates already in effect; the continuation notice does not announce a new universal rate. Commerce continuation, 91 FR 65162
Several administrative reviews reached only preliminary results on October 14. The figures below describe proposed review findings, not newly effective cash-deposit rates. The eventual final results control any later deposit change. India PET film · Malaysia nails · Taiwan coated steel · China xanthan gum
| Product and origin | Selected preliminary findings | Current effect |
|---|---|---|
| India PET film | SRF Limited: 3.98% CVD | Preliminary review; no new deposit rate. Notice |
| Malaysia steel nails | Region companies: 2.01% AD | Preliminary review; no new deposit rate. Notice |
| Taiwan corrosion-resistant steel | Prosperity 3.54%; Sheng Yu 20.73%; Great Grandeul 5.92% AD | Preliminary review; no new deposit rate. Notice |
| China xanthan gum | Deosen 70.21%; Fufeng group 51.82% AD | Preliminary review; no new deposit rate. Notice |
The xanthan-gum notice has an internal discrepancy for the separate, non-examined-company margin: its table says 56.20% while its narrative says 56.21%. That disputed figure should not be used as a filing rate; it is preliminary in either case. Commerce xanthan-gum notice
Actions for importers and brokers
- Match Carolina Performance Fabrics entries to the specific Salvatierra facility and flag any unliquidated entries for case monitoring. USTR direction
- Update Japan hot-rolled steel deposit matrices by producer/exporter for entries from October 14; preserve the existing hierarchy for other firms. Commerce final results
- Rescreen Nuevo Laredo carriers and business partners for TAMEX LOGISTICS and the other October 13 SDN additions. OFAC additions
- Track the hydraulic-cylinder investigation and preliminary review cases separately from active duty-order rates. USITC notice · Commerce review
Common questions
Does the Carolina action stop imports from Mexico?
No. USTR directed suspension of liquidation of unliquidated goods from the named facility; its announcement does not establish a nationwide import prohibition. USTR letter
Is 13.96% now the rate for every Japanese hot-rolled steel exporter?
No. The final review assigns 13.96% to the Nippon Steel group and the listed non-examined firms; Tokyo Steel is at 0%, and the all-others rate remains 5.58%. Company identification controls. Commerce rate table
Does TAMEX’s designation close the Nuevo Laredo port?
No port closure is announced. The action blocks dealings in sanctioned property within OFAC jurisdiction and requires counterparty screening. OFAC list · Treasury explanation
Do the preliminary review percentages change cash deposits today?
No. The cited notices reserve revised deposit requirements for publication of final review results. PET film review · Xanthan-gum review
Primary sources and publication dates
- USTR Carolina announcement (October 13, 2026); review request; Treasury direction.
- Commerce Japan steel final results, 91 FR 65177 (October 14, 2026).
- OFAC SDN additions (October 13, 2026); Treasury explanation.
- USITC hydraulic-cylinder decision, 91 FR 65258 (October 14, 2026); China shelving continuation, 91 FR 65162 (October 14, 2026).
- India PET film, Malaysia nails, Taiwan coated steel, and China xanthan gum preliminary reviews (October 14, 2026).