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- February 27, 2026
- System UpdateCSMS #67893165
CBP reverted cotton import assessment rates after USDA withdrew rate cut
CBP announced Harmonized System Update 2606, issued February 27, 2026, after USDA withdrew a direct final rule that would have lowered the Cotton Board supplemental assessment on imports starting March 1, 2026. The update removed the planned lower cotton rates from the HTS and reverted them to the previously established rates, effective February 26, 2026. The update added 5,122 harmonized tariff records and 24,062 ABI records.
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This update affected cotton entries filed around early March 2026 by reverting the assessment rate change before it took effect. We applied the reverted cotton rates to entries filed after this update. Later CSMS messages may have changed cotton tariff data since then, so clients should ask us to review any specific cotton entry.
CBP made electronic ocean manifest filing mandatory for U.S. Virgin Islands ports
CBP announced that electronic submission of ocean cargo manifests through ACE became mandatory for all U.S. Virgin Islands ports of entry (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John) starting March 7, 2026. The requirement applied to carriers, importing carriers, vessel agents, brokers, importers and freight forwarders. Non-automated manifest submissions were no longer permitted once the mandatory implementation took effect, though CBP allowed a limited transition period with enforcement discretion.
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This notice concerned ocean carrier manifest filing, not the customs entries we file for clients. We note the correct USVI port codes when we process shipments moving through St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John. Clients do not need to take any action, since carriers and their IT vendors handle the ACE manifest submission directly with CBP.
CBP held ACE maintenance window in late February 2026
CBP announced ACE production standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET on February 28, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET on March 1, 2026. This affected ACE availability for filers during that overnight window.
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This was a routine overnight maintenance window that has already passed. It required no action from clients then and has no bearing on entries today.
CBP updated FTZ CATAIR document for FT40 record processing
CBP announced an update to the Foreign Trade Zone CATAIR document on its website. The change affected the FT40 (Record Processing) chapter, updating the FT record number for Country of Export and Foreign Load Port descriptions. The update was a technical documentation change for ACE system filers.
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This update concerned technical FTZ data specifications in ACE, not the entries Allied files, since Allied does not operate or manage foreign trade zones. Clients who use FTZs should confirm with their FTZ operator or software provider that this record update was applied correctly. Clients do not need to take any action with Allied on this notice.
- System UpdateCSMS #67852800
CBP updated tariff system tables to reflect end of IEEPA duties and Section 122 surcharge
CBP announced Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2605, created February 23, 2026, containing 169 harmonized tariff records and 512 ABI records. The update reflected the ending of certain IEEPA tariff actions and changes to the Section 122 import surcharge under the Trade Act of 1974. CBP directed questions on the executive orders to its trade remedy and entry summary mailboxes, and questions on the HTS update itself to the HTS Administrator.
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At the time, this update told us that CBP's ABI and HTS tables had been revised to stop applying the ended IEEPA duties and to reflect the Section 122 surcharge rules then in effect. The IEEPA duties referenced here ended February 20, 2026, and the Section 122 surcharge applied only from February 24 to July 24, 2026, so neither applies to entries filed today. Clients do not need to act on this notice now. If clients have questions about how these now-expired measures affected specific past entries, they should ask us to review those entries.
CBP held ACE certification test system maintenance in February 2026
CBP announced a scheduled maintenance window for the ACE certification standard invasive environment on February 25, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. The message did not describe any effect on production ACE filings.
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This notice covered a test environment maintenance window and did not affect entries we file for clients. It required no action from importers or shippers at the time and has no bearing on current entries.
CBP Replaced ACE IDs With FAST IDs For Truck EDI Filings
CBP announced that effective February 24, 2026, the ACE Truck environment began using FAST IDs instead of ACE IDs as the standard identifier for FAST ID transmissions via ACE EDI. The ACE ID method for this purpose was retired. This affected truck carriers submitting FAST ID information through ACE EDI. CBP told users with questions to contact Cargo Control and Release or their client representative.
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This change concerns truck carriers who submit FAST ID data through ACE EDI, not the customs entries we file for importers. Because CBP made this a permanent identifier change, it still applies today. Clients do not need to act. Carriers still using FAST ID services should register or manage their ID through the Trusted Traveler Program website.
CBP explained the 10 percent Section 122 import surcharge that applied earlier in 2026
CBP issued guidance on the February 20, 2026 proclamation that added a temporary 10 percent duty on imports from all countries under Section 122, effective February 24, 2026 through July 24, 2026. The message listed exemptions, including certain agricultural products, civil aircraft parts, USMCA-qualifying Canadian and Mexican goods, CAFTA-DR textiles, donations and informational materials. It also covered Chapter 98 treatment, foreign trade zone admission, drawback eligibility, and the required order for reporting HTS numbers on entry summaries.
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This surcharge applied to entries Allied filed between February 24 and July 24, 2026, and is no longer in effect. Clients with entries from that window who believe an exemption applied, or who have questions about how it was applied to their goods, should ask us to review those specific entries. We do not need any action from clients now, since the surcharge period has ended.
CBP kept the de minimis suspension in place and added a 10% import surcharge in February 2026
CBP announced that, starting February 24, 2026, all goods lost eligibility for duty-free de minimis treatment, regardless of country of origin, except for limited items like donations and personal baggage. CBP also announced a 10 percent import surcharge on most goods entered on or after that date. International mail shipments were to keep following existing duty collection processes, and other shipments that previously qualified for de minimis had to be filed as a regular ACE entry type.
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The 10 percent import surcharge described in this message applied only from February 24, 2026 to July 24, 2026 and has since ended. The de minimis suspension for all countries, including mail, remains in effect today, so we continue to file formal or informal entries for shipments that previously would have qualified for the de minimis exemption. If clients are unsure how this affects a specific shipment or entry, they should ask us to review it.
CBP stopped collecting IEEPA duties on goods entered from February 24, 2026
CBP announced that it would stop collecting IEEPA duties under seven executive orders, following the February 20, 2026 Executive Order "Ending Certain Tariff Actions." The change applied to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 12:00 a.m. eastern time on February 24, 2026. CBP said the IEEPA HTSUS numbers would be inactive in ACE from that date. Duties under Section 232 and Section 301 were not affected.
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This message meant that entries filed from February 24, 2026 no longer carried IEEPA duties, and that remains the case. Section 232 and Section 301 duties still apply where they cover the goods. CBP now refunds IEEPA duties paid on earlier entries through CAPE Declarations in the ACE Portal, not through post-summary corrections. Clients who paid IEEPA duties should ask us to review their entries for a CAPE refund claim.
Supreme Court Ruled IEEPA Does Not Authorize Tariffs
CBP announced that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. CBP said it was working with other agencies to examine the decision's implications and would issue further technical guidance for ACE filers. The message did not state any immediate change to entry filing procedures.
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This ruling led to Executive Order 14389, which ended IEEPA duties the same day, and CBP later set up a refund process through CAPE Declarations in the ACE Portal. We apply these later rules when we review entries that carried IEEPA duties. Clients who believe they overpaid IEEPA duties should ask us to check their entries for refund eligibility.
CBP posted new truck export manifest EDI guides in February 2026
CBP announced in February 2026 that it had posted new Truck Manifest implementation guides for the ACE Electronic Export Manifest system, covering X.12 and UNEDIFACT standards. These were the first versions of these guides, not updates to earlier ones. The guides covered truck carrier cargo, crew, passenger and conveyance reporting messages.
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This message concerns technical data formats that truck carriers and their software providers use to file export manifests with CBP. It does not change entry filing requirements for the entries we handle. Clients do not need to act on this notice.
CBP asked filers to resend air manifest EDI messages from a Feb 19 outage window
CBP announced that Air Manifest EDI bill transmission messages submitted between 5:05 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. ET on February 19, 2026 needed to be resent to ensure timely manifesting. The notice was informational and directed technical questions to CBP's Cargo Control and Release team or to client representatives. It applied only to air carriers and filers affected by that specific transmission window.
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This was a one-time technical fix tied to a brief system issue on February 19, 2026. It no longer affects entries we file today. Clients do not need to act on this notice now.
CBP made ocean export manifest seal number field optional, not required
CBP announced an update to the Electronic Export Manifest Ocean X12-350 Implementation Guide. The update changed the M7A02 Seal Number field in the Seal Number Replacement segment from mandatory to optional. CBP said the change was live in production as of the message date.
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This change concerns ocean carriers that file electronic export manifests with CBP, not the import entries Allied files. It does not affect entries, ISF filings or duty refund claims that Allied handles for clients. Clients do not need to take any action because of this notice.
- QuotaCSMS #67792422
CBP published 2026 Argentina beef quota bulletin for tranche 1 (now closed)
CBP published Quota Bulletin 26-223 covering an additional 80,000 metric ton tariff-rate quota for Argentina lean beef trimmings, split into four quarterly tranches of 20,000,000 kg each. Tranche 1 ran from February 13, 2026 to March 31, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis. Entries filed early on the opening date received an 08:30 am ET entry time, with proration if the tranche limit was exceeded at that time.
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This bulletin covered Tranche 1 of the 2026 Argentina beef quota, which closed on March 31, 2026. Later tranches (2, 3, and 4) may have opened and closed under separate CBP bulletins since then. Clients with Argentina beef entries under this quota should ask us to confirm which tranche and quota status applied to their specific entries.
CBP held ACE maintenance window in February 2026, now past
CBP announced a scheduled ACE Production Standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 21, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 22, 2026. This was a routine system maintenance notice with no other details provided. The window has since passed.
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This was a routine, time-limited maintenance window that has already passed. It did not require any action from clients at the time and has no bearing on entries filed today.
CBP updated FDA data validation rule and pushed deployment to March 10, 2026
CBP announced a clarification to the draft FDA Supplemental Guide version 2.6, requiring that entries with FDA Process Indicator Code A also use Government Agency Processing Code CSU, or the entry is rejected. CBP rescheduled the production deployment of this validation to March 10, 2026 and asked filers to test in the certification environment. The message affects entries that include FDA-regulated merchandise.
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This message set a technical ABI validation rule for FDA-regulated entries that took effect in production on March 10, 2026. We applied this coding requirement to FDA entries we file from that date. Later CSMS messages may have changed FDA ACE requirements since then, so clients with FDA-regulated goods should ask us to confirm the current coding used on their entries.
CBP held ACE test system maintenance on February 18, 2026
CBP announced a maintenance window for the ACE Certification (test) environment on February 18, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm ET. This was an invasive maintenance window, meaning the test system was unavailable during that time. The notice did not affect the live ACE production system.
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This notice concerned the ACE test environment only, not the production system Allied uses to file live entries. It is now well past the maintenance window, so it has no ongoing effect. Clients did not need to take any action then and do not need to now.
CBP added new ITAR export exemption code to AES filing guide
CBP announced an update to AESTIR Appendix O adding ITAR Exemption Code 126.9U, covering temporary export, reexport, or temporary import of certain vessels listed in USML Category XX(a)(10). The update aligns the Automated Export System interface with a State Department ITAR change published in the Federal Register in August 2025. It applies to exporters and filers who report these vessel movements through AES.
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This update concerns Automated Export System filings for vessel exports under a specific ITAR exemption, not the import entries Allied files. We do not file AES export declarations for clients, so this does not change how we process customs entries. Clients who export vessels under USML Category XX(a)(10) should confirm the correct AES exemption code with their export compliance team or AES filer.
- System UpdateCSMS #67750523
CBP Updated Harmonized Tariff Data for Organic Program and Argentina Beef Quota
CBP announced Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2604 on February 13, 2026, adding 27 harmonized tariff records and 143 ABI records. The update included USDA National Organic Program HTS code flag changes and Argentina Beef Quota HTS updates. CBP referred questions on the flag changes and the quota updates to separate CBP contacts.
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This update changed how CBP's system flagged organic program and Argentina beef quota HTS codes as of February 2026. Later CSMS messages may have modified these flags further, so we cannot confirm they still apply without checking current guidance. Clients importing organic products or Argentina beef should ask us to review their entries for the current classification rules.
CBP added duty checks in ACE for entries with up to 32 HTS codes per line
CBP announced that on February 17, 2026 it deployed an ACE enhancement that validates filer-provided duty amounts on entry summary lines listing up to 32 HTS codes. When a filer's duty amount does not match CBP's calculation, ACE returns condition code 624 for a line mismatch or 627 for a total mismatch. The message directed technical questions to CBP client representatives and other questions to CBP's ESAR email address.
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This is a system level change to how CBP validates entry summary duty amounts, and it concerns the filing process rather than importer action. We account for these mismatch codes when we prepare and transmit entry summaries with multiple HTS codes per line. Clients do not need to do anything because of this message, but if a specific entry shows a duty discrepancy, clients should ask us to review it.
CBP proposed mandatory electronic export manifest for ocean cargo in February 2026
CBP published a proposed rule on February 10, 2026 to require electronic export manifest (EEM) filing in ACE for vessel cargo before departure from the United States. The rule aimed to give CBP visibility into outbound vessel shipments. CBP accepted public comments on the proposal through April 13, 2026.
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This proposed rule concerns export manifest filing, which Allied does not handle for clients. We are not aware whether CBP has finalized this rule since the comment period closed. Clients who export vessel cargo and want to know its current status should ask Allied or check the CBP EEM webpage directly.
CBP added carnet number fields to truck import manifests in ACE
CBP announced it updated ACE truck manifest systems to let filers submit a Carnet number and expiration date. The update added new codes for Carnet in the ANSI X12 and EDIFACT truck manifest formats, plus two new error codes for missing or invalid carnet data. CBP said it planned to deploy the changes to production on March 24, 2026. The change affects software developers and trade filers who submit truck manifests by EDI.
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This was a technical update to CBP's manifest system for truck carriers and their EDI software providers, not a change to entry or duty rules. Since the deployment date has passed, we expect these carnet fields and error codes are now active in production for truck manifest filings. Clients do not need to take any action on this notice; if a shipment involves a carnet, clients should ask us to confirm how it was reported.
- QuotaCSMS #67740694
CBP opened first 2026 quarterly tranche for Argentina beef imports
CBP announced Quota Bulletin 26-223, allowing an additional 80,000 metric tons of Argentine lean beef trimmings to enter in 2026 under specific HTSUS numbers. The quota was split into four quarterly tranches of 20,000,000 kg each, with Tranche 1 running from February 13 to March 31, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis. Entries filed early on the opening day received a standardized 8:30 am entry time, and CBP said it would prorate accepted entries if a tranche's limit was exceeded.
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This bulletin covered a quota window that opened and closed earlier in 2026, so the Tranche 1 deadline has already passed. Later CSMS messages may have updated the status of Tranches 2 through 4 or the overall quota. Clients who imported Argentine beef under this program should ask us to review the specific entries we filed for them.
- General NoticeCSMS #67739659
CBP held FY2026 webinars on reporting trade violations and EAPA allegations
CBP announced a schedule of free quarterly webinars for Fiscal Year 2026 on using its Trade Violations Reporting tool and on filing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) allegations. The webinars covered dates in March, April, June and September 2026, with registration required in advance through a CBP link. The message was for anyone interested in reporting suspected trade violations or learning EAPA procedures.
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This message only announced CBP webinar dates and registration steps, it did not change any entry filing rules. All the listed webinar dates have already passed. Clients do not need to take any action on this notice, and it has no effect on entries we file.
- System UpdateCSMS #67721736
CBP Issued Harmonized System Update 2603 Covering AGOA, Haiti and India Duties
CBP announced that Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2603, created on February 10, 2026, added 140 harmonized tariff records and 530 ABI records. The update included changes for AGOA, the Haiti HOPE and HELP programs, additional duties on imports from India, and other HTS corrections from the 2026 tariff schedule verification. CBP referred filers to a related message for entry filing guidance on the India duties.
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This was a system level update to the tariff tables used for filing entries covering AGOA, Haiti trade programs, and additional duties on India origin goods in effect at that time. Later CSMS messages, including the change in IEEPA duty treatment after the Supreme Court ruling, may have altered how these duties apply now. Clients with entries affected by AGOA, HOPE, HELP, or India duty provisions from this period should ask us to review those specific entries.
CBP held support call on electronic ACH refunds and new ACE notify party feature
CBP announced that since February 6, 2026 it issues nearly all refunds electronically via ACH, following a rule published January 2, 2026. CBP also added a feature in the ACE Portal for importers to add notify parties. This message reminded the trade community of a support call held on February 11, 2026 to answer questions on the transition.
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This message covered CBP's move to electronic ACH refunds and a new ACE Portal notify party feature, and the call it describes already took place. If a client has not confirmed ACH refund enrollment in the ACE Portal, we recommend checking that setup, since it affects how CBP-issued refunds, including duty refunds, reach the importer. Ask us if you want help confirming your ACE Portal refund and notify party settings on entries we file.
- General NoticeCSMS #67698864
CBP ran a CSMS user satisfaction survey through February 27, 2026
CBP's Office of Trade announced a CSMS User Satisfaction Survey in February 2026. The survey asked CSMS users about their experience with CSMS messages. CBP said it would use the results to consider improvements to trade communications. The survey was open until February 27, 2026.
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This was an optional survey with no effect on the entries we file. The survey has closed, and clients do not need to act.
- TariffCSMS #67702087
CBP dropped 25% Russia-related duty on India goods in February 2026, kept reciprocal tariffs
CBP announced that products of India entered on or after February 7, 2026 were no longer subject to the 25 percent additional duty imposed by EO 14329 on Russia-related threats, retiring HTSUS headings 9903.01.84-9903.01.89. Reciprocal tariffs under EO 14257 remained in effect for India goods that did not qualify for an exemption. CBP told filers to correct entries filed under the retired headings, using a post summary correction for unliquidated entries or a protest within 180 days of liquidation for liquidated entries.
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This message predates the Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs and the EO 14389 order that ended IEEPA duties, including reciprocal tariffs, the same day. The PSC and protest process described here for correcting these entries has since been replaced by the CAPE Declaration refund process in the ACE Portal for IEEPA duties. Clients with India entries from this period should ask us to review whether their duties were refunded through CAPE rather than through the process this message describes.
CBP Reauthorized AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP Duty-Free Programs Through 2026
CBP announced that the President signed H.R.7148 on February 3, 2026, extending duty-free treatment for AGOA beneficiary countries and Haiti HOPE/HELP programs through December 31, 2026. The law also allowed retroactive refunds, without interest, of general duties paid on eligible entries during the program lapse from October 1, 2025 through February 3, 2026. CBP said importers could resume filing SPI "D" starting February 6, 2026, and claim quota preference starting February 9, 2026. Refund requests for the lapse period, by post summary correction, protest, or written request, had to be filed by August 2, 2026.
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This message is now historical. The refund filing deadline of August 2, 2026 has passed, so importers who had eligible AGOA or Haiti HOPE/HELP entries during the lapse period should already have filed for refunds by then. If a client believes they had eligible entries from that lapse period and did not file by the deadline, we cannot obtain the retroactive refund now. For current entries, AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP duty-free treatment and quota filing remain in effect through 2026 per this notice, but clients should ask us to confirm how later CSMS messages may affect their specific entries.
The summaries and positions are general information, not legal advice. Always check the official CBP message, which each page links to.
Does a change affect your entries?
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