| 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/Crimea/DNR/LNR-origin goods (Syria: targeted sanctions and EAR export controls only).
- · Ivory & endangered species (ESA + CITES).
- · Counterfeit trademark/copyright goods (19 USC 1526).
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| Restricted goods | - · US-import section: USMCA preference does not override Section 338 measures: certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy and motor-vehicle products (see the proclamation annexes) face a 50% additional duty (from 22 Aug 2026), and some face import bans (from 29 Sep 2026).
- · US-import section: From 12:01 am ET 30 Oct 2026, the Proclamation of 23 Oct 2026 (*Further Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada Subject to the Additional Duties…*) removes 22 subheadings from the 50% Section 338 duty (Annex I Part A) and adds 100 subheadings (Annex I Part B); civil aircraft under General Note 6 are excepted; the duty applies in addition to Section 232 duties. Annex II amends Ch. 99 U.S. note 51(b)(3).
- · From 4 Dec 2026: +15% on polysilicon ingots and derivatives, plus a minimum import price of USD 21/kg polysilicon, USD 100/kg ingots and wafers, USD 0.22/W cells, USD 0.38/W modules. For JP/KR/TW/CH/LI/EU origin, 232 + MFN = 15%; for UK, 10% (this UK 10% is the polysilicon rate under Proc. 11052, not the pharma rate). Raw 2804.61 scope: to verify against the Annex.
- · Section 232 pharmaceuticals from 31 Jul 2026 for Annex III companies and 29 Sep 2026 for all other companies: patented products 100% ALL-IN, not added to MFN (9903.04.60); Japan, EU, South Korea, Switzerland and Liechtenstein 15% ALL-IN, not added to MFN (9903.04.62); UK MFN +0% (9903.04.63), under 91 FR 49406 (FR Doc 2026-15799, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-15799), reducing the original +10% to 0% from 31 Jul 2026; approved onshoring plan +20% (.64); .65/.66/.70 +0%. Generics (.67) and entries before 29 Sep 2026 (.61): no change, except Annex III companies (from 31 Jul 2026). HS 30 example: generic, no Section 232; covered patented product, 100%, or 15% total for EU origin; UK origin: MFN only. Confirm Annex I coverage before selecting a tariff line.
- · Section 232 steel and aluminium: 50% (UK 25%, 9903.82.04) since 4 June 2025. Source: HTS Rev 21 Chapter 99, https://hts.usitc.gov/reststop/file?release=currentRelease&filename=Chapter%2099
- · 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.
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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 | - · Graham Act (signed 18 Sep 2026) and EO 14436 (16 Oct 2026, 91 FR 66627): 500% additional duty on Russian goods and 100% on goods from certain buyers of Russian oil/gas and evasion facilitators were enacted, but are WAIVED under Sec. 4 of the order as of 21 Oct 2026 and are not collected. The waiver can be withdrawn. Existing Russia sanctions are unchanged.
- · Comprehensive: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Crimea/DNR/LNR.
- · Syria: targeted list-based sanctions only (PAARSS) since the Syria program ended on 1 Jul 2025; export controls under the EAR may still apply.
- · 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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