CBP Awaiting Formal Publication of Notice Postponing Jan. 1 Tariff Increase

Customs and Border Protection at our Monday deadline was awaiting Federal Register publication of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative notice officially delaying the increase in Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods for 90 days to March 2. Though the USTR posted the prepublication notice Friday (see 1812140045), CBP confirmed it would wait to make changes in its Automated Commercial Environment portal until the notice is formally published. ACE is CBP's central system through which importers and exporters file shipment reports. The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America noted in an email to members some confusion "when customs brokers who transmit entries early for shipments arriving after January 1 notice that CBP's system applies a 25% tariff rate for these products." Brokers should be aware that "10% will be the correct duty rate on January 1, but CBP's system will nevertheless show a duty rate of 25% until official notification is published," said the association.