U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a clarification regarding the in-transit exemptions under the new reciprocal tariff policy. In an April 30 update to its IEEPA Reciprocal Tariffs FAQ, CBP confirmed that exemptions from the tariff increases—applicable to goods in transit as of April 5 or April 9—apply exclusively to goods transported by ocean vessel.
IN-TRANSIT EXEMPTION FOR RECIPROCAL TARIFFS
CBP emphasized that the in-transit exemption:
- Does not extend to shipments moving by air, rail, or truck; nor
- Does it apply to goods that began transit by vessel but ultimately arrived in the U.S. via another mode of transportation.
Importers who incorrectly claimed the exemption using HTS 9903.01.28 for non-vessel shipments are advised to take corrective action immediately. Entry summaries should be updated through post summary corrections (PSC) to ensure compliance and avoid potential penalties.
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