NOAA Lifted Panama Tuna Embargo, Renewed Findings for Six Other Countries
CBP title: National Marine Fisheries Service Lifts Yellowfin Tuna Import Prohibition for Panama under the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program
This message is from April 15, 2026. Later CSMS messages may have changed it. See the latest trade news
What did CBP announce?
CBP announced that NOAA Fisheries issued an affirmative finding for Panama, lifting the 2000 embargo on yellowfin tuna and tuna products caught by purse seine vessels in the eastern tropical Pacific. The finding covered April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. NOAA Fisheries also renewed one year affirmative findings for Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain, covering April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
What is Allied's position?
This lifted the import ban on Panamanian yellowfin tuna and tuna products harvested by purse seine vessels, and confirmed continued eligibility for the other listed countries. We apply these findings to entries of yellowfin tuna and tuna products from these countries that we file. Clients importing tuna from Panama or the renewed countries should ask us to confirm their entries reflect the correct country status and validity period, since the one year findings for the other six countries expire March 31, 2027.
General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) issued an affirmative finding to Panama for a period of five years, effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. This affirmative finding lifts the embargo imposed on Panama in 2000 for yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean by purse seine vessel (https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-07298/taking-or-importing-of-marine-mammals (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/15/2026-07298/taking-and-importing-of-marine-mammals)).
In addition, NOAA Fisheries renewed affirmative findings for the countries of Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain, effective for a period of one year, beginning April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027 (https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-07293/taking-or-importing-of-marine-mammals (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/15/2026-07293/taking-and-importing-of-marine-mammals)).
More information about NOAA Fisheries' affirmative findings and yellowfin tuna import restrictions is available online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/resources-us-importers
Questions can be directed to NOAA Fisheries at: swrtuna.track@noaa.gov (mailto:swrtuna.track@noaa.gov)