Entry / Entry Summary

Trade Agreements & Special Programs

Claiming USMCA and other agreement benefits, MPF exemptions by program, American goods returned and assembled abroad under Chapter 98, temporary importation under bond, carnets, and the de minimis suspension of June 2026.

Entry / Entry Summary2 min read6 sections

Must-know for the exam

USMCA claim: prefix the HTSUS number with S or S+, based on a certification of origin by the importer, exporter or producer (19 CFR 182.11).
USMCA certification: no set format, valid four years, blanket up to 12 months; not needed for commercial imports of $2,500 or less (182.12, 182.14).
USMCA post-importation refund claim within one year after importation (182.31); keep records five years (182.15).
9802.00.40/.50 repairs: duty on the value of the repair only (10.8). 9802.00.80: duty on full value less U.S. components.
9801.00.10: U.S. goods returned free if not advanced in value or improved abroad (10.1).
TIB: one year, extendable twice by one year on CBP Form 3173 (max 3 years); bond = double estimated duties (10.31(f), 10.37).
MPF exemptions (24.23(c)) cover USMCA, Israel and listed FTAs such as Korea, Chile and CAFTA-DR, but not Jordan.
De minimis ($800) suspended for non-postal shipments from June 24, 2026 (10.151(b), CBP Dec. 26-12).

On this page · 6 sections

Traps that cost marks

Using NAFTA-era codes or forms.
Assuming the NAFTA rule that only the exporter certifies.
Confusing the 12-month blanket period with the validity period.
Requiring a certification for every claim regardless of value.
Using the protest period for a USMCA post-importation claim.
Using the certification's four-year validity as the retention period.
Assuming the certifier alone bears the consequences.
Charging duty on the whole article instead of the repair.

Why it matters on the exam

Special programs sit in the Entry / Entry Summary category and in valuation questions. Expect a program indicator, a time limit, or a duty base for goods returned or assembled abroad.

USMCA

Claims use S or S+ before the HTSUS number. The certification of origin may be on any document (not an invoice from a non-USMCA country), is valid four years and may cover a blanket period of up to 12 months. Importers must correct a claim promptly if they learn the certification is wrong (182.11(c)), and may claim a refund within one year after importation if they missed the claim at entry (182.31-182.32).

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