United States - Import & Export Regulatory Guide
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.
Regulatory authorities
- Import entry, HTSUS classification, duty collection, ACE filings.
- EAR export controls, ECCN classification, licensing.
- Sanctions programs, SDN List administration.
- ITAR / USML defense articles.
- FDA / USDA / EPA / FCCProduct-specific admissibility for food, drugs, agri, chemicals, radio equipment.
Licensing regimes
| Licence | Scope | Issuer |
|---|---|---|
| EAR licence (dual-use) | Items on Commerce Control List (CCL) with an ECCN + country/end-use nexus. | BIS |
| ITAR licence | USML defense articles/services; DS-5 registration required. | DDTC |
| OFAC specific/general licence | Any transaction touching sanctioned party, jurisdiction or SDGT. | OFAC |
| FDA Prior Notice | All food/beverage imports; filed via ACE min 2h before arrival. | FDA |
- · 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).
- · 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.
- · 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).
- · 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.
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.
Key official sources
- HTSUS Online ↗- Official tariff schedule.
- BIS Country Chart & CCL ↗
- OFAC SDN Search ↗
- UFLPA Entity List ↗
Frequently asked questions (6)
If an SDN owns 50% or more of an entity (aggregated across all SDN owners), that entity is treated as blocked even without being separately listed. Screen ultimate beneficial ownership, not just the counterparty name.
On goods of Chinese origin (substantial transformation test, not shipped-from). List 1-3 cover ~USD 250bn of imports at 25%; List 4A ~USD 120bn at 7.5%. Exclusion windows open periodically via USTR.
UFLPA creates a rebuttable presumption for goods with any Xinjiang nexus - including upstream inputs (cotton, polysilicon, tomatoes). CBP expects a full traceability package: bills of materials, supplier maps, transaction records, worker interviews. Isolate exposure by tier-2 and tier-3 supplier audits before shipping.
Check the ECCN on the Commerce Control List, then the Country Chart. Most EAR99 items ship No License Required (NLR) to non-embargoed destinations. Licences are triggered by classified ECCNs (5A002 encryption, 3A001 semiconductors), restricted end users (Entity List), or prohibited end uses (military, WMD).
Section 301 duties (7.5-25%, plus proposed 100% on EVs and select cleantech) stack on top of the HTSUS Column 1 duty rate. Confirm applicability against the current Federal Register list by 10-digit HTS line. Some categories have granted exclusions - check USTR's exclusion portal.
The Automated Commercial Environment is CBP's single-window platform. The importer of record (or a licensed customs broker acting on their behalf) files entry summaries (CBP Form 7501), PGA data (FDA, USDA, EPA), and cargo release. E-file is mandatory - paper filings are not accepted for commercial entries.
Commodities regulated when trading with United States
These commodity hubs list United States in their export or import lane. Cross-reference the regulatory rules above with grades, specs and HS chapters.
Compliance-ready templates for cross-border trade
Sanctions screening, KYC and end-use documentation are the first thing customs and correspondent banks check. Start with these free templates.