The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) took effect on July 1, 2020. To provide guidance, U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued several publications regarding the rules of origin for those seeking USMCA preferential tariff treatment.
USMCA Interim Final Rule
The interim final rule, concerning the USMCA’s rules of origin, was published in the Federal Register on July 1. This rule creates the framework for “regulations that provides further guidance regarding the rules of origin for those seeking USMCA preferential tariff treatment and includes the text of the Uniform Regulations regarding rules of origin”. The interim rule creates new Part 182 to the Customs regulations for USMCA.
This rule also amends the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) regulations, under 19 CFR Part 181 and establishes that “NAFTA provisions do not apply to any goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse consumption on or after July 1, 2020.”
Many of the regulations included in the interim final rule reproduce the rules of origin provisions of the Uniform Regulations agreed upon and released in early June.
USMCA Implementing Instructions (Updated)
CBP has issued the updated USMCA Implementing Instructions, CBP Publication Number 1118-0620. This memorandum offers guidance to file your preferential tariff claims under USMCA.
USMCA Published in HTSUS
USMCA is now published in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (2020) in General Note 11.
CBP expects additional updates to the regulations to be published by July 1, 2021, a year after USMCA’s enaction. If you have any questions, reach out to Mohawk Global Trade Advisors.
By Nora Klinowski