| Intro | The US operates one of the most granular trade-compliance regimes in the world. Imports run through CBP (Customs & Border Protection) under the HTSUS; exports are dual-licensed under EAR (BIS) and ITAR (DDTC). Sanctions enforcement is centralised at OFAC. UFLPA (2022) creates a rebuttable presumption that any goods with a Xinjiang nexus are forced-labour products. |
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| Primary authorities | - US Customs & Border Protection (CBP)Import entry, HTSUS classification, duty collection, ACE filings.
- Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS)EAR export controls, ECCN classification, licensing.
- Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)Sanctions programs, SDN List administration.
- Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)ITAR / USML defense articles.
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| Licensing regimes | - EAR licence (dual-use)Items on Commerce Control List (CCL) with an ECCN + country/end-use nexus. · BIS
- ITAR licenceUSML defense articles/services; DS-5 registration required. · DDTC
- OFAC specific/general licenceAny transaction touching sanctioned party, jurisdiction or SDGT. · OFAC
- FDA Prior NoticeAll food/beverage imports; filed via ACE min 2h before arrival. · FDA
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| Prohibited goods | - · Goods produced with forced labour (Tariff Act §307 / UFLPA rebuttable presumption).
- · Cuban-origin goods except OFAC-licensed exceptions.
- · Iran/North Korea/Syria/Crimea/DNR/LNR-origin goods.
- · Ivory & endangered species (ESA + CITES).
- · Counterfeit trademark/copyright goods (19 USC 1526).
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| Restricted goods | - · Steel & aluminium under Section 232 - country-specific quotas & Section 232 duties (25% / 10%).
- · Chinese-origin goods on Section 301 List 1-4A (7.5-25% additional tariff).
- · Semiconductors, advanced computing chips & tools - EAR §744.23 China/Macao/Russia end-use controls.
- · Encryption items - EAR §740.17 CCATS classification, mass-market notification.
- · Chemicals - EPA TSCA §5 pre-manufacture notice; some also PMN-listed.
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| Labelling requirements | - · Country of origin marking - 19 CFR 134, in English, conspicuously & indelibly on the article.
- · FTC textile fibre content labelling (16 CFR 303) - fibre by weight, RN number.
- · FDA nutrition facts panel per 21 CFR 101 for packaged food.
- · CPSC tracking labels for children's products (Section 103 CPSIA).
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| Sanctions overlay | - · Comprehensive: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea/DNR/LNR.
- · Sectoral: Russia (Directives 1-4), Venezuela oil/gold, Belarus.
- · SDN List - blocked property; 50% Rule aggregates ownership.
- · OFAC 50% Rule - entities 50%+ owned by SDN are themselves blocked.
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| Dispute resolution | Import protests via CBP Form 19 (180 days). Court of International Trade (CIT) for classification/valuation. FCPA enforcement via DOJ/SEC. Trade remedies (AD/CVD) administered by DOC/ITC. FTA disputes under USMCA Chapter 31. |
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| Official sources | |
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