NMFS Updates HTS Codes Subject to COA Requirements From Mexico

The National Marine Fisheries Service has updated the Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes subject to Certification of Admissibility requirements from Mexico to align the codes with the International Trade Commission's 2024 revision to the tariff schedule, according to an Oct. 23 cargo systems message.

NMFS, acting under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, imposed imported restrictions on designated fish products caught in certain Mexican fisheries operating in the Upper Gulf of California to protect the vaquita, a species of porpoise endemic to the area (see 1808270014).

"Shipments filed under the listed HTS codes are eligible for entry only if accompanied by a COA signed by an official designated by the Government of Mexico. Entries from Mexico are inadmissible if using a designated HTS code that is not accompanied by the COA," CBP said.

Technical questions on the entry filings and COA use may be directed to trademonitoring.support@noaa.gov. Questions on the MMPA import provisions may be emailed to mmpa.loff@noaa.gov.

Information on the embargo and entry requirements for the designated fish products originating in Mexico is posted on the NMFS website.

In August, three wildlife advocacy groups went before the Court of International Trade to contest the collective failure of the Commerce, Treasury and Homeland Security departments and the NMFS to ban fish or fish products exported from fisheries that don't meet U.S. bycatch standards under the MMPA (see 2408080028). Mexico was cited as one of nine nations where fisheries allegedly weren't meeting U.S. standards.