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U.S. CBP issues withhold release orders on Indonesian palm oil imports over forced labor

The orders direct CBP personnel to detain palm oil and derivative products produced by two Indonesian companies over forced labor concerns.

September 29, 2026

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today issued two withhold release orders (WROs) directing personnel at all U.S. ports of entry to immediately detain palm oil and derivative products produced by two companies in Indonesia.

The WROs were issued following a CBP review of evidence, including interview transcripts, payroll slips, harvest quota information, photographs, government and non-governmental organization reports, news media, and academic research. CBP determined that workers are subjected to multiple International Labour Organization (ILO) indicators of forced labor, including withholding of wages, debt bondage, deception, excessive overtime, intimidation and threats, abusive working and living conditions, and abuse of vulnerability.

Importers of detained shipments may choose to export or destroy their shipments, or they may seek to demonstrate that the merchandise was not produced with forced labor.

Read the CBP release (September 29, 2026).

For more information, contact a professional with KPMG Trade & Customs services:

 

Andrew Siciliano
Partner, U.S. & Global Practice Leader

E: asiciliano@kpmg.com

Doug Zuvich
Partner

E: dzuvich@kpmg.com

Irina Vaysfeld
Principal

E: ivaysfeld@kpmg.com

John L. McLoughlin
Principal

E: jlmcloughlin@kpmg.com

Luis (Lou) Abad
Principal

E: labad@kpmg.com

George Zaharatos
Principal

E: gzaharatos@kpmg.com

Christopher Young
Principal

E: christopheryoung@kpmg.com

Amie Ahanchian
Principal

E: aahanchian@kpmg.com

Gisele Belotto
Principal

E: gbelotto@kpmg.com

Steve Brotherton
Principal

E: sbrotherton@kpmg.com

Jessica Libby
Principal

E: jlibby@kpmg.com

Dawn Olesky
Principal

E: dolesky@kpmg.com

Frances Xing
Principal

E: francesxing@kpmg.com

 

 

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