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- August 18, 2026
CBP held ACE certification test environment maintenance on August 19, 2026
CBP announced an ACE certification standard invasive maintenance window on August 19, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. This affected the ACE certification (test) environment used for system testing, not the production filing system. The message did not name any specific transactions or services affected.
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This notice concerned a scheduled maintenance window in CBP's ACE test environment and did not affect entries we filed for clients. The window has passed and had no lasting effect on current filings. Clients do not need to do anything about this notice.
CBP Urged Importers to Check ACH Enrollment to Avoid Refund Rejections
CBP announced that brokers and importers could use the ACE REV-613 report to find refunds rejected for missing ACH enrollment. It advised affected importers to enroll for ACH refunds in the ACE Portal and notify CBP's ACH refund support email. CBP warned that importers not enrolled in ACH could keep experiencing refund delays or rejections.
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This notice concerns how importers receive refund payments from CBP, including duty refunds tied to entries we file. We recommend clients confirm their ACH enrollment status is current, since this affects how quickly they receive any refunds, including IEEPA duty refund payments. Clients who are unsure of their ACH enrollment status should contact Allied so we can help review their entries and refund records.
- General NoticeCSMS #69571234
CBP reported delays in outbound cargo and in-bond notifications
CBP said trade users may have experienced delays in outbound notifications for Air, Ocean, Rail, Manifest, and In-Bond systems. CBP stated it was investigating the issue and would issue a follow-up message once resolved. The message did not name a cause or give a timeline for a fix.
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This notice told us that CBP's outbound notification systems for cargo and in-bond movements were experiencing delays at the time. CBP did not confirm in this message whether the issue was resolved, so a later CSMS message may have addressed it. Clients with entries or in-bond movements affected around this period should ask us to check the status of their specific filings.
CBP fixes drawback system error that had blocked claims on two Section 301 tariff codes
CBP corrected a August 12, 2026 update to the FD07 drawback validations that had wrongly disallowed drawback for HTSUS 9903.05.01 (Section 301 duties on Brazil products) and 9903.05.20-9903.05.84 (Section 301 forced labor import duties). CBP confirms these classifications are drawback eligible and has updated the Drawback Error Dictionary in ACE ABI CATAIR accordingly. This affects importers and filers submitting drawback claims involving these HTSUS codes.
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This is a system correction, not a change in drawback policy: these HTSUS codes were always meant to be drawback eligible. We file drawback claims involving these classifications using the corrected FD07 validations now in production. Clients who had drawback claims rejected for these codes between August 12, 2026 and this correction should ask us to review and resubmit them.
- PGA UpdateCSMS #69536147
CBP and Commerce held a webinar on fighting unfair trade practices
CBP announced a webinar with the Department of Commerce on Combating Unfair Trade, held September 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST. The session covered new antidumping and countervailing duty orders and how to report suspected violations or file Enforce and Protect Act allegations. Registration was free but required in advance.
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This was an informational webinar and the registration deadline has passed. It does not change how we file entries for clients. Clients who want guidance on AD/CVD orders or possible violations affecting their goods should ask us to review their entries.
CBP Blocked Drawback on Certain Section 301 Duties from Brazil and Forced Labor Goods
CBP announced that on August 12, 2026, it deployed updates to the FD07 drawback validations. The update disallows drawback claims for HTSUS 9903.05.01 (Section 301 duties on certain products from Brazil) and 9903.05.20 through 9903.05.84 (Section 301 forced labor import duties). CBP pointed filers to the Drawback Error Dictionary in the CATAIR for further guidance.
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We file drawback claims through ACE, which applies CBP's FD07 validations. Since this update, claims that include HTSUS 9903.05.01 or 9903.05.20 through 9903.05.84 are rejected by the system. Clients with pending or planned drawback claims involving these classifications should ask us to review their entries for impact.
- QuotaCSMS #69523407
CBP opened the 2027 tobacco tariff-rate quota on September 14, 2026
CBP published Quota Bulletin 26-502 announcing the 2027 tobacco quota period, which runs from September 13, 2026 to September 12, 2027. The quota opened on Monday, September 14, 2026. Entries filed between 12:01 a.m. local port time and 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the opening date all received an 8:30 a.m. entry time, and CBP prorated accepted entries if any HTSUS group total exceeded the limit at that time.
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This bulletin covers tobacco entries under HTSUS Chapter 24, Additional U.S. Note 5, and the quota period it describes remains open through September 12, 2027. We apply the opening date and proration rules from this bulletin to tobacco entries we file for clients within this quota period. Clients importing tobacco under this quota do not need to take action, but should ask us to confirm quota status on any pending entries.
CBP extends Jones Act waiver for Dept. of War shipments through November 15, 2026
CBP announced a second 90-day extension of the Jones Act waiver granted to the Department of War, effective August 17, 2026. Covered products must be loaded onto the relevant vessel before 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 15, 2026 to remain compliant. CBP also updated the list of covered products and changed the waiver request process, requiring vessel availability requests to DOW and MARAD before any voyage, plus post-voyage reports to CBP and MARAD.
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This notice concerns coastwise transportation of specific Department of War cargo on foreign-flag vessels, not the customs entries we normally file. If a client ships goods on the covered products list under this waiver, they should contact us so we can review how it affects their entries, but this does not change our standard entry filing process. Most Allied clients will not be affected by this waiver.
CBP held ACE maintenance overnight on August 15-16, 2026
CBP announced ACE production standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 15, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The notice affected users of the ACE system during that window. It did not describe any change to filing rules or requirements.
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This was a routine system maintenance notice and it has already passed. It did not change any filing requirements, so clients do not need to act. If clients had questions about entries filed around that maintenance window, they can ask Allied to check the status.
- QuotaCSMS #69511340
CBP published 2026-2027 cotton fiber quota bulletin (Note 10)
CBP announced Quota Bulletin 26-406 covering cotton fibers processed but not spun under HTSUS Chapter 52, Additional U.S. Note 10. The quota period ran from September 11, 2026 through September 10, 2027, opening September 11, 2026. Entries filed before 8:30 a.m. ET on the opening date received an 8:30 a.m. entry time, and CBP said it would prorate accepted entries if any HTSUS group exceeded its limit.
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This bulletin set the opening rules and quota period for cotton fiber entries under Note 10 for the 2026-2027 year. If Allied filed entries for this commodity around the September 11, 2026 opening, we followed the stated entry-time and proration rules. Clients with entries in this quota category should ask us to confirm the status of their specific filings.
- QuotaCSMS #69511296
CBP published 2027 cotton card strips quota bulletin for tariff-rate quota period
CBP published Quota Bulletin 26-405 covering cotton card strips under HTSUS Chapter 52, Additional U.S. Note 9. The quota period ran from September 20, 2026 through September 19, 2027, and the quota opened on September 21, 2026. Entries filed between 12:01 a.m. local port time and 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the opening date received an 8:30 a.m. entry time for quota purposes, with proration if the HTSUS group limit was exceeded.
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This bulletin set the opening mechanics for the 2027 cotton card strips tariff-rate quota, which has already opened. We applied the stated entry-time rules to any cotton card strips entries filed around the September 21, 2026 opening. Clients importing this commodity do not need to take further action on this specific bulletin, but should contact us if they have entries from that opening date they want reviewed for proration.
- QuotaCSMS #69511149
CBP published 2027 cotton quota bulletin, opened September 21, 2026
CBP announced Quota Bulletin 26-401 for cotton not carded or combed under HTSUS Chapter 52, Additional U.S. Note 5. The quota period ran from September 20, 2026 through September 19, 2027, with an opening date of September 21, 2026. Entries filed before 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the opening date received an 8:30 a.m. entry time, and CBP said it would prorate accepted entries if any HTSUS group exceeded its limit at that time.
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This bulletin set the opening and proration rules for the 2027 cotton quota period, which has already started. We applied the stated entry time rules to any cotton entries we filed on the opening date. Clients with cotton entries under this quota should ask us to confirm how their specific entries were processed.
- QuotaCSMS #69509193
CBP published 2027 quota bulletin for quartz surface products imports
CBP announced Quota Bulletin 26-601 for Quartz Surface Products, covering quota periods from August 15, 2026 through August 14, 2027. The bulletin implemented tariff-rate quota limits under a Presidential Proclamation and set an opening date of August 17, 2026 for the first period. Entries filed early on the opening date received a standard 8:30 a.m. Eastern entry time, with proration if any HTSUS group limit was exceeded.
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This was a routine quota bulletin covering specific HTSUS subheadings for quartz surface products. It affected only entries of that commodity filed during the stated quota periods. Clients importing quartz surface products should ask us to confirm how their entries were handled and whether later CBP messages changed quota levels or eligible countries.
CBP updated Entry Type 13 rules in ACE Cargo Release CATAIR and error codes
CBP posted draft updates to the ACE Cargo Release CATAIR and Cargo Release Condition Codes documents covering Entry Type 13. The changes update several CATAIR notes and delete or revise certain error codes. CBP said the updates were expected to deploy to the ACE production environment on September 22, 2026.
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This is a technical filing update for Entry Type 13, which Allied uses for mail entries. We apply the updated CATAIR notes and error codes to the entry type 13 filings we submit through ABI now that the deployment date has passed. Clients do not need to do anything.
CBP held ACE certification maintenance window on August 12, 2026
CBP announced an ACE certification standard invasive maintenance window on August 12, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET. This affected the ACE certification environment used for testing, not production filings. The message did not name any affected filers or entry types.
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This notice concerned a test environment maintenance window that has already passed. It did not require any action from clients then and has no bearing on entries we file now. Clients do not need to do anything about this message.
CBP posts updated ACE deployment schedule (notional)
CBP announced on August 11, 2026 that it posted an updated Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Development and Deployment Schedule on CBP.gov. CBP described the schedule as notional and subject to change. The notice pointed readers to CBP.gov/ACE for the most current deployment information.
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This message concerns brokers and system developers who track ACE deployment timing. It does not change any filing requirement for the entries we file for clients. Clients do not need to act.
- EnforcementCSMS #69486540
CBP extended ACAS full enforcement deadline to May 2027
CBP announced that it extended the phased enforcement period for the Enhanced Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Interim Final Rule from November 21, 2026 to May 1, 2027. The program requires air carriers and other eligible filers to submit specific data elements for air cargo before it is loaded onto a US-bound aircraft. CBP said the extension gives the trade more time for system integration, compliance procedures and data quality work. The extension applied to requirements under the Enhanced ACAS IFR and affected air carriers, filers and other eligible parties.
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This message concerns air carriers and other parties who submit ACAS data, not the entries we file for importers. We do not file ACAS submissions on behalf of clients, so this notice does not require action from our importer clients. Clients who ship as air carriers or ACAS filers should confirm with their own compliance teams that they are ready for the May 1, 2027 enforcement date.
- Policy GuidanceCSMS #69440156
CBP held August webinars on reporting trade violations and EAPA allegations
CBP's Office of Trade issued a final reminder to register for two free quarterly trade enforcement webinars, held August 10 and 12, 2026. The sessions covered how to report suspected trade violations and file Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) allegations through the Trade Violations Reporting online portal. Registration was free and open to the public but required in advance.
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These webinars already took place and were informational sessions on reporting trade violations, not a filing requirement for entries. They did not change any entry, classification, or duty rules that we apply to the entries we file. Clients do not need to take any action regarding this message.
CBP resolved an ACE quota processing issue affecting certain chapter 99 HTS codes
CBP announced on August 6, 2026 that it had resolved an issue with quota processing in ACE. The issue involved specific chapter 99 HTS codes. The message followed CSMS # 69395228, which reported the issue.
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This notice closed out a temporary ACE system issue, and clients did not need to act. Later CSMS messages may have changed quota processing, so clients with questions about entries under chapter 99 codes should ask Allied to review them.
CBP held ACE maintenance window in August, now past
CBP announced ACE production standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET on August 8, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET on August 9, 2026. The message did not describe any effect on filings beyond the maintenance window itself. This notice is now more than 30 days old.
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This was a routine ACE maintenance window that has already passed. It did not require any action from clients at the time and has no ongoing effect on entries we file. Clients do not need to do anything about this notice now.
CBP Issued Harmonized System Update 2619 for UK Pharma Duty Cut and FDA Flags
CBP announced Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2619, created August 1, 2026, adding 6 tariff records and 25 ABI records. The update reduced the Section 232 pharmaceutical duty for United Kingdom-origin products under HTS 9903.04.63 from 10 percent to 0 percent. It also changed FDA tariff flags for mustard product HTS numbers, distilling machinery HTS numbers, and an antibiotic HTS number for clindamycin.
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At the time, this update lowered the Section 232 duty for the listed UK pharmaceutical HTS number and revised FDA flags on several other HTS numbers, which affected how we classified and flagged those entries. Later CSMS messages may have changed these rates or flags since August 2026. Clients who import UK pharmaceutical products, mustard preparations, distilling machinery, or clindamycin should ask Allied to review their current entries for the correct duty rate and FDA flag.
- General NoticeCSMS #69428352
CBP required ACH payment for Post Summary Correction duty increases starting August 2026
CBP announced that starting August 5, 2026, filers had to pay any duty, tax or fee increases from a Post Summary Correction (PSC) through ACH, no longer by check or cash. The message also said filers must pay the full increase at PSC submission or wait for a liquidation bill, and it explained the ACH Debit and ACH Credit payment steps. It set out an exception allowing PSCs after 300 days for entries suspended due to AD/CVD, EAPA or a court injunction.
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This notice concerns how brokers like Allied submit and pay Post Summary Corrections to CBP, not something importers need to do themselves. We use ACH for any PSC duty increases we file and follow the full payment or liquidation billing rules CBP describes. Clients do not need to act on this notice; if a specific entry needs a PSC, we handle the payment method and timing.
- TariffCSMS #69415934
CBP cut Section 232 tariff on UK patented pharmaceuticals to zero percent
CBP announced that patented pharmaceuticals and related ingredients from the United Kingdom, filed under HTSUS 9903.04.63, moved from a 10 percent additional duty to 0 percent. The change applied to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2026. CBP said it had updated ACE to reflect the new rate and pointed filers to an earlier message for related Chapter 99 classifications.
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At the time, this meant entries of UK patented pharmaceuticals under 9903.04.63 that Allied filed on or after July 31, 2026 carried no additional Section 232 duty instead of 10 percent. Nothing in the background we track shows this rate has since changed, but clients with entries in this category should ask us to confirm the correct rate applied. Clients do not need to take independent action; contact us if you have questions about a specific entry.
CBP issued tariff updates for new Section 232 duties on patented pharmaceuticals
CBP announced Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2618, published July 31, 2026, adding 174 tariff records and 591 ABI records. The update implemented HTS changes for Section 232 duties on imports of patented pharmaceutical articles and ingredients, effective July 31, 2026. CBP directed questions on the Section 232 pharmaceutical duties to its trade remedy branch and questions on the HSU itself to its HTS Administrator.
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This update gave CBP's systems the tariff codes needed to apply the new Section 232 duties on patented pharmaceutical articles and ingredients. Section 232 duties rest on a different legal authority than the IEEPA duties struck down in February 2026, so this change is unaffected by that ruling and should still apply to current entries. Clients importing patented pharmaceutical articles or ingredients should ask us to review their entries for correct classification and duty treatment.
- PGA UpdateCSMS #69402038
CBP updated draft ACE CATAIR appendix for USDA APHIS PG10 codes
CBP announced an updated ACE CATAIR Appendix PGA in the Draft Chapters section of CBP.gov. The update added AGAR and EXAR to the PG10 Commodity Characteristic Qualifiers list for USDA APHIS. It also updated the name and definition for code 406 in the PG10 Category Codes section.
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This update concerns the technical ABI data specifications that brokers use to file entries with USDA APHIS data. It does not require any action from importers or shippers. Clients with questions about how this affects specific APHIS filings should ask us to review their entries.
CBP details Section 232 tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals, phased by company
CBP explained how it will implement Section 232 duties on patented pharmaceutical articles and ingredients under Proclamation 11020. Companies listed in Annex III faced the duties starting July 31, 2026, while imports from all other companies become subject to duties starting September 29, 2026. Generic pharmaceuticals and U.S.-origin products are excluded. CBP said importers must report one of several new Chapter 99 HTSUS codes (9903.04.60 through 9903.04.69) depending on the company, country of origin, and product type.
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We classify entries of patented pharmaceutical articles and ingredients under the correct Chapter 99 code based on the manufacturer's Annex III status, country of origin, and whether the product is generic. For imports from companies not on Annex III, we file the zero-duty code until September 29, 2026, after which the applicable duty rate takes effect. Clients should send us the product HTSUS classification, country of origin, and manufacturer details now so we can confirm the correct code before the September 29 deadline.
CBP reported a quota processing glitch for certain Chapter 99 HTS codes in ACE
CBP announced on July 30, 2026 that it found a problem with quota processing in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) affecting specific Chapter 99 harmonized tariff schedule codes. CBP said it was investigating the issue and would issue a follow-up message once a solution was implemented. The message did not name the affected codes or give a timeline for a fix.
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This notice affects quota entries tied to certain Chapter 99 HTS codes in ACE. We do not know if CBP has since resolved the issue or issued a follow-up message, so clients with quota entries from this period should ask us to review whether their specific entries were affected.
CBP held ACE maintenance window August 1 to 2, 2026
CBP announced ACE production standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, August 1, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, August 2, 2026. This was a scheduled system maintenance window that could affect ACE availability during that period.
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This was a routine, time limited ACE maintenance window that has already passed. It required no action from clients then or now, and it has no bearing on current entries.
CBP updates list of HTS codes barred from AES export reporting
CBP announced updates to Appendix V of the AESTIR, which lists HTS numbers that cannot be reported in the Automated Export System. One HTS number was removed from the list and 43 HTS numbers were added, at the request of the U.S. Census Bureau. The updated list is posted on CBP.gov.
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This message concerns exporters and filers who report HTS numbers in AES, not the import entries we file. Clients who export goods under any of the listed HTS numbers should check the updated Appendix V and confirm how their AES filer reports those numbers. This notice does not require any action on entries we handle for clients.
- PGA UpdateCSMS #69382435
CPSC eFiling Requirements Took Effect, but CBP Still Accepted Incomplete Data
CBP announced that CPSC fully implemented its eFiling PGA message set requirements on July 8, 2026, making eFiling of CPSC certificate of compliance data mandatory. CBP said ACE would still accept entries with missing or incomplete CPSC data, without rejecting them, as long as the overall CATAIR PGA format was followed. CPSC could still review or reject the CPSC data through a separate message and pursue enforcement action when required eFiling data was missing.
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This applied to entries for CPSC-regulated products that we filed for clients. It meant CBP would not reject an entry solely for missing CPSC data, but CPSC could still reject that data later or take enforcement action. We advised clients importing CPSC-regulated goods to provide complete certificate of compliance information at the time of filing. Later CSMS messages may have changed these requirements, so clients should ask us about 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?
Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com