U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress April 24 that the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement will enter into force on July 1, 2020. Following that notification to Congress, the U.S. certified to Mexico and Canada that it's ready for the NAFTA replacement to take effect.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a new group of product exclusions from the third group of Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. The new exclusions from the tariffs include "one 10-digit HTSUS subheading, which covers 20 separate exclusion requests, and 107 specially prepared product descriptions, which cover 157 separate exclusion requests," according to the notice. The product exclusions apply retroactively to Sept. 24, 2018, the date the third set of tariffs took effect. The exclusions will remain in effect until Aug. 7, 2020.

CBP posted interim implementation instructions for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to provide "guidance with respect to preferential tariff claims under the USMCA," it said. The document covers many of the USMCA provisions, including making preference claims, rules of origin for automotive goods and country of origin marking rules. "The procedures outlined in this memorandum are in place pending the issuance of the applicable regulations," CBP said.

President Donald Trump authorized the temporary extension of "deadlines, for importers suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19" in an April 19 Executive Order. "To qualify for this temporary postponement, an importer must demonstrate a significant financial hardship," CBP said in a prepublication version of a temporary final rule. "An eligible importer need not file additional documentation with CBP to be eligible for this relief but must maintain documentation as part of its books and records establishing that it meets the requirements for relief," it said.

The Trump administration won't be going forward with a broad customs duty deferral, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in an April 3 interview on Bloomberg TV. After considering a limit on such deferrals to most-favored nation duties, Kudlow said the administration determined that such an action was "too complicated" and "might send the wrong signals."

CBP may still suspend some duty collections, according to a person knowledgeable of the discussions. The Wall Street Journal said in a March 27 report that duty collections would be deferred for three months, though President Donald Trump called the report "fake news."

CBP will no longer take requests to defer payments of customs duties, the agency said in a CSMS message. "CBP will retain the right to allow additional days for narrow circumstances, including a physical inability to file entry or payments, due to technology outages or port closures," the agency said.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued another set of product exclusions from the fourth group of Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. The new exclusions from the tariffs include "five 10-digit HTSUS subheadings and seven specially prepared product descriptions, which together cover 36 separate exclusion requests." according to the notice. The product exclusions apply retroactively to Sept. 1, 2019, the date the fourth set of tariffs took effect. The exclusions will remain in effect until Sept. 1.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued another set of product exclusions from the third group of Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. The new exclusions from the tariffs include "one 10-digit HTSUS subheading, which covers one exclusion request, and 176 specially prepared product descriptions, which cover 202 separate exclusion requests." according to the notice. The product exclusions apply retroactively to Sept. 24, 2018, the date the third set of tariffs took effect. The exclusions will remain in effect until Aug. 7, 2020.

CBP is looking at allowing extensions for duty payments in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America said in a March 19 email following an industry update call with CBP. The NCBFAA and other industry members recently suggested in a letter that CBP consider such extensions, it said. "CBP understands the major impact this could have and is currently researching to see if the plan is feasible," said the NCBFAA. "In the meantime, CBP is considering case-by-case deferrals."