Signal CBP Blocks Indonesian Palm Oil Imports Over Forced Labor Findings

Summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued two Withhold Release Orders on September 29, 2026 against palm oil and derivative products made by Indonesia's Mitra Aneka Rezeki and Hardaya Inti Plantation. The orders take effect immediately, directing CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry to detain covered shipments from the two producers. The action is based on violations of 19 U.S.C. §1307, which bars entry of goods made with forced labor. CBP's review drew on interview transcripts, payroll records, harvest quota data, photographs, open-source NGO and government reports, news media, and academic research. The agency concluded that both companies use forced labor in palm oil production. The case illustrates how supply-chain labor monitoring data is translating into concrete customs enforcement.