CBP Issues WRO Aggainst Finca Monte Grande - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Agency will detain imports of coffee harvested with forced labor
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a Withhold Release Order against coffee harvested by Finca Monte Grande, a Mexican coffee farm. Effective immediately, CBP at all U.S. ports of entry will detain coffee harvested by Finca Monte Grande.
“This action reminds us why CBP’s enforcement mission matters,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “This work protects vulnerable workers from exploitation and ensures companies cannot gain an unfair advantage by abusing human rights. By detaining these coffee products at our ports of entry, CBP is keeping goods made with forced labor out of U.S. commerce.”
CBP issued this WRO, the first in 2026 and the third in Fiscal Year 2026, due to violations of 19 U.S.C. § 1307, the law prohibiting goods made with forced labor from entering the United States. When CBP has evidence indicating imported goods are made by forced labor, the agency acts to detain those shipments through WROs.
This WRO is the result of a CBP investigation and review of the following supporting evidence: in-depth interview transcripts, interview questionnaires, international organization and nongovernmental organization reports, and open-source news media reports. Taken together, the evidence demonstrated that workers at Finca Monte Grande are subject to six International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor: abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, retention of identity documents, excessive overtime, debt bondage, and abusive working and living conditions.
The facts indicate by reasonable suspicion that workers are engaged in forced labor. Additionally, CBP trade import data demonstrates that the goods are being, or are likely to be, imported into the United States. CBP receives allegations of forced labor from a variety of sources including government agencies, media, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public.
“The message is clear: if you profit from forced labor, you lose access to the U.S. market,” said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Trade Susan S. Thomas. “CBP’s actions protect American workers and businesses that compete fairly and play by the rules.”
The WRO against Finca Monte Grande highlights CBP’s continued efforts to combat forced labor. With this action, CBP now oversees and enforces 55 WROs and nine Findings under 19 U.S.C. § 1307.
Importers of detained shipments may seek to destroy or export their shipments or seek to demonstrate that the merchandise was not produced with forced labor.
Any person or organization with reason to believe merchandise produced with forced labor is being, or is likely to be, imported into the United States can report allegations through CBP’s Forced Labor Allegation Portal. Follow CBP Office of Trade on X and CBP Office of Trade on LinkedIn.
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Determination Under the Textile and Apparel Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (“CAFTA-DR”) - ITA/Federal Register
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
ACTION: Determination to add a product in unrestricted quantities to Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (“CITA”) has determined that certain faux leather fabric bonded to a pile fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product is added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR in unrestricted quantities.
DATES: Applicable Date: January 28, 2026.
ADDRESSES: https://otexaprod.trade.gov/otexacapublicsite/requests/cafta under “Approved Requests,” File Number: CA2025005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2043 or Laurie.Mease@trade.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: The CAFTA-DR; Section 203(o)(4) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (“CAFTA-DR Implementation Act”), Public Law 109-53; the Statement of Administrative Action accompanying the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act; and Presidential Proclamation 7987 (February 28, 2006).
Background: The CAFTA-DR provides a list in Annex 3.25 for fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR have determined are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. The CAFTA-DR provides that this list may be modified pursuant to Article 3.25.4, when the United States determines that a fabric, yarn, or fiber is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. See Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR; see also section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act.
The CAFTA-DR Implementation Act requires the President to establish procedures governing the submission of a request and providing opportunity for interested entities to submit comments and supporting evidence before a commercial availability determination is made. In Presidential Proclamation 7987, the President delegated to CITA the authority under section 203(o)(4) of CAFTA-DR Implementation Act for modifying the Annex 3.25 list. Pursuant to this authority, on September 15, 2008, CITA published modified procedures it would follow in considering requests to modify the Annex 3.25 list of products determined to be not commercially available in the territory of any Party to the CAFTA-DR (Modifications to Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement,73 FR 53200) (“CITA's Procedures”).
On December 11, 2025, CITA received a Commercial Availability Request (“Request”) from Youngone (El Salvador) S.A. de C.V. (“Youngone”) for certain faux leather fabric bonded to a pile fabric, as specified below. On December 15, 2025, in accordance with CITA's Procedures, CITA notified interested parties of the Request, which was posted on the dedicated website for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability proceedings. In its notification, CITA advised that any Response with an Offer to Supply (“Response”) must be submitted by December 26, 2025, and any Rebuttal to a Response (“Rebuttal”) must be submitted by January 2, 2026, in accordance with sections 6 and 7 of CITA's Procedures. In accordance with Executive Order 14371 (Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025,90 FR 60545), CITA extended the deadlines for Responses and Rebuttals by two U.S. business days, or through December 30, 2025 and January 6, 2026, respectively. CITA notified the public of the extension on its website.
No interested entity submitted a Response to the Request advising CITA of its objection to the Request with an offer to supply the subject product. In accordance with section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, and section 8(c)(2) of CITA's Procedures, as no interested entity submitted a Response objecting to the Request and providing an offer to supply the subject product, CITA has determined to add the specified fabric to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR.
The subject product has been added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities. A revised list has been posted on the dedicated website for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability proceedings, at https://otexaprod.trade.gov/otexacapublicsite/shortsupply/cafta.
Specifications: Certain Faux Leather Fabric Bonded to a Pile Fabric
HTS: 6001.92.00.
Fabric Type: Knit fabric, faux leather bonded to a pile fabric.
Fiber Content:
Face: Faux leather fabric constructed from a 100% polyester knit fabric coated with polyurethane.
Back: Sherpa knit pile fabric 72-83% polyester, 16-26% acrylic.
Yarn Size:
Face: 75 Denier sea-island filament 100% polyester used for both warp and weft.
Back: Binding polyester 150 denier polyester combined with tops acrylic fiber, weighing between 11 to 17 grams.
Thread Count:
Face: Wales/cm 32, Course/cm 32.
Back: Wales/cm 7, Course/cm 8.
Weight: 520-535 grams per square meter.
Width: 133 to 147 centimeters (equivalent to 52.4 inches to 57.8 inches).
Weave: Knit in both, face and back.
Coloration:
Face: fiber dyed, colors: black, brown and beige and overprinted;
Back Side: fiber dyed in colors black, brown and beige.
Finishing: Bonded using the Moltopren heat process, which involves a flame lamination technique that fuses the layers through controlled heat and pressure. The finished sherpa hair has a height of approximately 11 mm in the back.
Additional Information: Sea island fiber is also known as super-conjugate fiber or butterfly polyester yarn, is formed by a core component dispersed in another polymer in a longitudinally continuous way. Polymer material forms the core part, which is also called the island phase or dispersed phase. Another polymer is called sea component, sea phase, or continuous phase. Because original dispersed phase fiber presents as an island state in the fiber section, it is called sea-island fiber.
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Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Hardwood Plywood Products From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Administrative Reviews of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2023
• Certain Monomers and Oligomers From Taiwan: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination
• Slag Pots From the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order and Countervailing Duty Order
• Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Covered Merchandise Inquiry
• Mobile Access Equipment and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Amended Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022
• Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar From the Republic of Türkiye: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof From Canada, the People's Republic of China, and Mexico: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Canada and India; Institution of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase Investigations
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico; Institution and Scheduling of Review Investigation Concerning the Commission's Affirmative Determination in Investigation No. 731-TA-747 (Final), Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico
• Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks From Italy: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order and Countervailing Duty Order
• Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022
• Thermal Paper From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Thermoformed Molded Fiber Products From the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Antidumping Duty Orders
• Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks From Germany: Final Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Certain Brake Drums From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Thermoformed Molded Fiber Products From the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Countervailing Duty Orders
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Processed Slabs and Methods for Making Same; Notice of Institution of Investigation
• Certain Hydrodermabrasion Systems and Components Thereof; Notice of a Commission Determination To Review in Part a Final Initial Determination Finding a Violation; Extension of the Target Date for Completion of the Investigation; Request for Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding
• Certain Crafting Machines and Components Thereof; Notice of Request for Submissions on the Public Interest
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Steel Nails From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof From Mexico: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
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CITES CoP20 Amendments to Appendices I and II - U.S, Fish & Wildlife Services
Background: Party countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meet approximately every three years for a Conference of the Parties. During these meetings, party countries review and vote on proposed amendments to CITES Appendix I and Appendix II species listings. Adopted amendments become effective 90 days after the last day of the meeting unless Party countries agree to delay implementation. The most recent Conference of the Parties (CoP 20) was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, November 24 – December 5, 2025.
On January 9, 2026, the CITES Secretariat posted a Notification to the Parties bulletin (No. 2026/005) announcing amendments to CITES Appendix I and II species listings.
Action: Beginning March 5, 2026 (except those which have a delayed entry into effect date and those which have been deleted from the Convention), all shipments into and out of the United States containing the species listed below (including parts and products) must be accompanied by the appropriate CITES document. Shipments must be presented for inspection and clearance by the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement at a designated port or a port authorized under a Designated Port Exception Permit. Port contact information can be found here: https://www.fws.gov/media/wildlife-trade fish-and-wildlife-portspdf
Species deleted from Appendix I of the Convention
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FDA ImportShield Program Delivers Impressive Results in Strengthening FDA Oversight at U.S. Ports of Entry - Food & Drug Administration
New centralized program and technology upgrades dramatically enhance FDA’s ability to stop dangerous imports at U.S. borders
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced its initial review of the effectiveness of the FDA ImportShield Program (FISP), which launched in August 2025 to modernize how the FDA reviews imported products. In just four months, FISP increased processing speed by 66%, boosted monthly volume capacity by 33%, and reduced staff hours by 20%, saving approximately 3,388 hours each month.
"Whether it's detecting counterfeit medications or identifying contaminated food products, the FDA ImportShield Program and other modernization efforts add a powerful new layer of protection for American families," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H.
The FDA ImportShield Program, formerly known as the Nationalized Entry Review Program, streamlines the FDA’s import review process by combining five separate regional teams into one centralized operation. This new unified team provides consistent oversight across all U.S. ports of entry. By leveraging time-zone coverage and focused commodity expertise under unified management, the program improves efficiency, consistency, and accountability in import decision-making.
This coordinated approach creates real-time protection through nationwide alerts. When the FDA discovers high-risk products like tainted infant formula or counterfeit medications at one port, all other ports are notified so they can prevent similar dangerous products from reaching consumers. This ensures consistent monitoring and enforcement of the FDA laws and regulations, while helping to prevent bad actors from exploiting gaps between regional teams.
“The FDA's import review workload has grown substantially, with admissibility decisions increasing from 58 million lines in 2024 to 75 million lines in 2025,” said Associate Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations Elizabeth Miller, Pharm.D., “The FDA ImportShield Program helps the agency tackle this volume increase more efficiently.”
Alongside the FDA ImportShield Program, the agency is also pursuing comprehensive technology modernization, including an advanced review platform system that will for the first time integrate multiple tools and databases. This will enable the FDA’s frontline investigators to access comprehensive information more quickly while maintaining existing connectivity with Customs and Border Protection systems.
These changes represent the FDA's latest commitment to using the best available tools and technology to keep unsafe imported products from reaching American families, while facilitating the flow of safe products to those who need them.
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Clorox Agrees to Pay $14.15 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Bacterial Hazard with Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaning Products - Consumer Product Safety Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that The Clorox Company, of Oakland, California, has agreed to pay a $14.15 million civil penalty. The settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by CPSC, resolves CPSC’s charges that Clorox knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law, that its Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaning Products contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to consumers.
In early 2019, Clorox microbiologists issued a written report documenting bacterial contamination in storage tanks and finished product, which they described as “possibly a Pseudomonad.” Subsequently, Clorox received reports of cloudiness in products in certain retail stores, and a report from a distributor regarding cloudy products that had been distributed in multiple locations. While Clorox took steps to mitigate the potential for bacterial contamination, Clorox did not immediately report to the Commission as required.
“Prompt reporting of safety risks saves lives, and CPSC will not hesitate to enforce the law when companies fail to meet their obligations,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman. “This proposed settlement sends a clear message: firms that delay reporting serious hazards do so at their own risk."
The Commission and Clorox jointly announced a recall of the Pine-Sol scented cleaning products on October 25, 2022. The recall stated that the recalled products may contain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an environmental organism found widely in soil and water, and that people with weakened immune systems or external medical devices who are exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa face a risk of serious infection that may require medical treatment.
In addition to the $14.15 million civil penalty, the settlement agreement requires Clorox to maintain internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), including enhancements to its compliance program. Clorox has also agreed to submit an annual report regarding its compliance program, internal controls, and internal audit of the effectiveness of compliance policies, procedures, systems and training.
The Commission has provisionally accepted the settlement agreement, subject to public comment. Mark S. Raffman, a Senior Trial Attorney in the Division of Enforcement and Litigation, represented the Commission in this enforcement action.
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At FTC’s Request, Court Halts Operations of Deceptive Health Care Telemarketers - Federal Trade Commission
Agency alleges Florida-based Top Healthcare Options caused tens of millions of dollars in harm to consumers seeking comprehensive health insurance coverage
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a U.S. district court in Florida has temporarily stopped the operations of a web of companies and individuals that the FTC alleges caused tens of millions of dollars in harm through the deceptive marketing of health care plans.
According to the Commission’s complaint seeking the injunction, Top Healthcare Options Insurance Agency Inc (THO) and 11 related defendants operate a deceptive telemarketing scheme that takes advantage of consumers looking for comprehensive health insurance. They often target consumers shopping for comprehensive health insurance plans on the internet. In reality, the plans the defendants sell are not comprehensive health insurance or equivalent to such plans, do not provide the promised coverage, and leave the buyers unprotected from, at times, crushing medical costs.
“Health insurance is one of the most important and costly purchases consumers buy for themselves and their families,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Whether shopping for groceries or healthcare, affordability is front-and-center right now in consumers’ decision-making process. This makes ensuring they have all the information necessary to make informed choices even more important.”
The FTC alleges consumers are misled into entering personal information on websites that appear as if they offer comprehensive health insurance by promoting plans such as “Affordable Care Act Plans,” “Obamacare Health Insurance Carriers,” and “2024 Obama Care Plans.” The sites, however, are actually built for lead generators who collect consumers’ information and sell it to the defendants or their vendors for telemarketing purposes, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges that, when calling consumers, the defendants launch into a pitch designed to move prospective buyers away from comprehensive health insurance coverage and toward the plans they offer, which actually provide far less health care coverage than comprehensive plans, leaving the buyers exposed to thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket medical expenses.
The complaint charges the defendants with falsely representing that the limited benefits plans and medical discount memberships they sell:
• are comprehensive health insurance, or the equivalent of such insurance;
• are PPO plans;
• provide substantial coverage for consumers’ specific needs, such as specific providers, types of medical services, or prescription medications; and
• limit consumers’ responsibility for the cost of certain medical services to a fixed, low amount, for example, by using copays or deductibles.
The complaint alleges the defendants violated the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and the FTC Act and seeks refunds for affected consumers and other relief. The court entered a temporary restraining order against the defendants for their alleged law violations.
The Commission vote authorizing staff to file the complaint against the 12 defendants was 2-0. It was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the seal has now been lifted.
The defendants in the case include: 1) Top Healthcare Options Insurance Agency Inc; 2) Golden State Advisors Insurance Agency LLC; 3) Top Healthcare Solutions LLC; 4) Direct Health Solutions Insurance Agency, LLC; 5) Prime Healthcare Solutions Insurance Agency LLC; 6) Premier Services Group Hub LLC; 7) Elevation Media Group LLC; 8) Sargent Financial LLC (d/b/a WeMake Media LLC); 9) Ramz Media Marketing LLC; 10) Tiffanie Gonzalez; 11) Ramzey Hassoun; and 12) Richard Sargent.
The Commission staff on this matter are Tammy Chung, Jason Moon, and Nicole Conte in the FTC’s Southwest Region.