CBP Says USMCA Interim Implementing Instructions Could Come Soon

CBP has drafted some interim implementing instructions for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that could be released as soon as April 17, a CBP official said during an April 16 conference call. The draft is being circulated within the government and is planned to eventually go up on CBP's website, she said. The instructions will detail how to file an entry, and the Special Program Indicator code will be S, she said. There's also some discussion about an S+ code for agricultural goods with special requirements, similar to the CAFTA-DR codes, she said. A CSMS message would announce the release of the instructions, she said.

The plans for the draft interim instructions, which would be an early version of the implementing regulations, are still under discussion, she said. “It's a little bit out of process to be giving interim implementing instructions before” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issues a Federal Register notice, but “a lot of things are happening a little more rapidly because of the need to satisfy the interest in getting this agreement implemented early,” she said. The USMCA uniform regulations are still under development, she said.