On April 22, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued new product exclusions pertaining to the 25% Section 301 List 3 Tariffs. The new list of exclusions includes one 10-digit HTSUS subheading (8424.90.9080 covering parts of certain projecting, dispersing or spraying devices) and 107 specially prepared product descriptions corresponding to a particular HTSUS subheading.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Provides FAQs Regarding 90-Day Duty Postponement
As stated in our earlier post, the Secretary of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have postponed the deadline for payment for the deposit of certain estimated duties, taxes, and fees for importers experiencing a significant financial hardship due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for up to 90 calendar days.
CBP
U.S. Treasury Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announce 90-Day Duty Postponement due to COVID-19
On April 20, 2020, the Secretary of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced via the CBP Customs Service Messaging System (CSMS #4243171) that they would be postponing the deadline for payment for the deposit of certain estimated duties, taxes, and fees for importers who have experienced a “significant financial hardship” due
Customs Creates New Imports Web Portal for Inquiries Related to COVID-19
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) announced in CSMS #42364745, issued April 14, 2020, that due to the high volume of inquiries the agency is migrating from its COVID-19 Relief Imports email address to the COVID-19 Relief Imports Web Portal, which is designed to address inquiries related to the importation of medical supplies to
Customs Changes Course: No Longer Accepting Requests to Defer Duty Payments
On Friday, March 20, 2020 Customs announced that it was accepting requests for short-term relief from payment of estimated duties, taxes and fees due to the COVID-19 emergency, as discussed here.
Nevertheless, on March 26, 2020, Customs issued “Additional Guidance for Entry Summary Payments Impacted by COVID-19” that revised the information and
CBP is Focusing on Shipments of COVID-19 Response Materials to Identify Spurious Goods and Expedite Legitimate Shipments
On March 24, 2020 the New York Field Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Informational Pipeline 20-001-NYFO concerning Imports of Pandemic Response Materials in response to increased COVID-19 cases in the greater New York City area and across the nation. The Pipeline indicated that many of these shipments are legitimate, but also noted
Key U.S. Agencies and Federal Courts Handling International Trade and Trade-Related Matters Begin to Adjust to COVID-19 Concerns
UPDATED: March 25, 2020 – Several U.S. executive branch agencies along with federal courts are instituting significant operational changes. These changes have either already been implemented or are anticipated at the U.S. government agencies and courts which manage international trade-related concerns in the coming weeks due to personnel and public safety concerns over the COVID-19
Customs Providing Immediate Short Term Duty Deferrals to Approved Importers Working to Provide Longer Term Relief to the Importing Community
Short term case-by-case relief to approved importers: On Friday, March 20, 2020 at 4:52 PM Customs issued the following message:
Due to the severity of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will approve on a case by case basis additional days for payment of estimated duties, taxes and fees due to
Canada Approves U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Implementation May Be Slowed By COVID-19
On March 13, 2020, the Canadian Parliament approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (the “USMCA” in the United States or “CUSMA” in Canada), with Royal Assent, Canada’s equivalent to a U.S. presidential signature, following shortly thereafter. As a result, Canada became the final of the three countries to approve the revised NAFTA free trade agreement. Before implementing
USTR Announces Increase in Section 301 Tariffs for New Airplanes and Aircraft, Minor Changes for Other Goods
On February 14, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it had completed its review of the current Section 301 tariffs due to the ongoing Large Civil Aircraft dispute with the European Union (EU). As previously reported, various European goods (including aircraft, certain textiles and wearing apparel, hardware, cheeses, and other