U.S. Customs And Border Protection Launches New Tool To Navigate USMCA
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the opening of a new portal that will help U.S. businesses navigate the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA). The “USMCA Center” will contain information and analysis from various experts who are dealing with operations, legal, and auditing issues. Companies are encouraged to direct inquiries to the USMCA Center at USMCA@cbop.dhs.gov.
Click here for more information about the Center.
Another USMCA-related piece of news: CBP’s Interim Implementing Instructions for the trade deal state that “the USMCA permits importers to make a post-importation preference claim to request a refund of excess duties.” However, MPF (Merchandise Processing Fees) paid on entries, for which a post-importation claim for preference under the USMCA is made, will not be refunded.”
This policy is a change from NAFTA, the USMCA’s predecessor. It means that, unlike under NAFTA, if an importer claims that their goods qualify for duty-free treatment after they have been imported, the importer could seek a refund only on duties paid but not MPF.