Cargo Systems Messaging Service

CSMS # 69990649 - GUIDANCE: Section 301 China Conforming Amendment

The purpose of this message is to provide guidance regarding the amendment of Section 301 China product exclusions to conform with certain changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

BACKGROUND

On September 2, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published Federal Register Notice (FRN) 91 FR 56538 making conforming amendments to four product exclusions. This amendment is to conform with changes to ten-digit statistical reporting categories of the HTSUS effective July 1, 2026.

The amendment found in the Annex to the Federal Register notice amends U.S. notes 20(vvv)(i)(4), 20(vvv)(i)(5), 20(vvv)(i)(6), and 20(vvv)(iv)(4) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as originally published in the Annex at 89 FR 46948 (May 30, 2024), as amended.

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) functionality for the acceptance of the conforming amendment will be effective as of noon on September 23, 2026.

GUIDANCE

This guidance provides instructions for importers, brokers, and filers on submitting entries to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on imports subject to four exclusions from the Section 301 China measures, effective July 1, 2026.

• U.S. note 20(vvv)(i)(4) (9903.88.69) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS has been modified by inserting “through June 30, 2026; described in statistical reporting numbers 8413.91.9039, 8413.91.9046, 8413.91.9059 or 8413.91.9099 effective July 1, 2026” after “January 1, 2020.”
• U.S. note 20(vvv)(i)(5) (9903.88.69) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS has been modified by inserting “through June 30, 2026; described in statistical reporting numbers 8413.91.9039, 8413.91.9046, 8413.91.9059 or 8413.91.9099 effective July 1, 2026” after “January 1, 2020.”
  
  
• U.S. note 20(vvv)(i)(6) (9903.88.69) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS has been modified by inserting “through June 30, 2026; described in statistical reporting numbers 8413.91.9039, 8413.91.9046, 8413.91.9059 or 8413.91.9099 effective July 1, 2026” after “January 1, 2020.”
  
  Note: The goods covered by notes (i)(4), (5) and (6), through June 30, 2026, were classified under HTSUS classifications 8413.91.9065, 8413.91.9085 or 8413.91.9096.
  
  
• U.S. note 20(vvv)(iv)(4) (9903.88.69) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS has been modified by inserting “prior to July 1, 2026; described in statistical reporting numbers 3926.90.9915 or 3926.90.9920 effective July 1, 2026” after “3926.90.9910”.
  
  Note: The goods covered by note (iv)(4), through June 30, 2026, were classified under HTSUS classification 3926.90.9910.

Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTSUS number for the Section 301 China duties when HTSUS 9903.88.69 is submitted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To request a refund of Section 301 duties paid on previous imports of products granted duty exclusions by the USTR, importers may file a Post Summary Correction (PSC) if within the PSC filing timeframe. If the entry is beyond the PSC filing timeframe, importers may protest the liquidation if within the protest filing timeframe.

For example, if importers enter Chinese goods during the period July 1, 2026 through September 22, 2026, subject to the conforming amendments under HTSUS classification 9903.88.69, and pay Section 301 China duties, importers should file a PSC on or after September 23, 2026, to obtain a refund of duties paid.

Questions from the importing community concerning ACE entry rejections involving product exclusions should be referred to their CBP Client Representative. Questions related to Section 301 entry-filing requirements should be sent to the Office of Trades’ Trade Remedy branch via email to traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov.

Related Message Number(s): 63114152