U.S.
Sets Opening-Moment Procedures for 2026 Canned Tuna Tariff Rate Quota
U.S. Customs
and Border Protection has issued Quota Bulletin 26-212 governing the 2026
tariff rate quota for tuna and skipjack in airtight containers (not in oil),
weighing not over 7 kg each, classified under HTSUS Chapter 16. The
quota period runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026, with a special opening-moment
set for January 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET.
Because the
quota is expected to be oversubscribed at opening, importers must follow
opening-moment procedures under 19 CFR 132.12. Quota entry summaries may
be transmitted in ACE only between 12:01 a.m. local port time and 12:00 p.m.
ET on the opening day; entries submitted outside this window will not qualify
for the opening. For quota purposes, the port of entry governs the time and
date of presentation.
The final
quota limit will be provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
in May 2026. Until proration is announced, all entries presented at opening
must deposit the over-quota (high) rate of duty, using specified Chapter
16 HTSUS numbers. CBP will issue proration and liquidation instructions once
NMFS confirms the final limit.
If the quota
is not filled at the opening moment, remaining quantities will be allocated on a
first-come, first-served basis. The unit of measure is kilograms (KG),
and the merchandise may also be subject to AD/CVD, Section 232, or other applicable
duties.
[ABS
News Service/15.12.2025]
Tuna and
Skipjack, in airtight containers, not in oil, in containers, weighing with their
contents not over 7 kg each as provided in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS), Chapter 16 subheadings.
January
1, 2026 - December 31, 2026
Friday,
January 2, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Time (ET)
Opening
moment procedures will be in effect.
In order
to ensure that all importers are afforded a portion of the tuna quota at the in-quota
(low) rate of duty in the event that the total quantity presented at opening exceeds
the final quota limit, importers will be required to follow the opening moment procedures
provided for in 19 CFR 132.12 (quotas are expected to oversubscribe at opening).
The Trade
may transmit the quota entry summaries in ACE on January 2, 2026, from 12:01 AM
(midnight) local port time until 12:00 PM (noon) ET only. Entry summaries reported early or late (before
12 Midnight local port time or after 12 noon ET), will not be processed for the
opening; however, early transmissions may be retransmitted within the proper range
of time.
Please
note: For remote filers, the port of entry dictates the time and date of presentation
for quota purposes.
National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will provide the final quota limit to Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) in May 2026.
Upon receipt
of the final quota limit, CBP will issue proration and liquidation instructions
to the field/trade.
Trade
Instructions: Please ensure warehouse entry summaries associated with the withdrawals
are not finalized in Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). If you experience any issues, please contact your
Automated Broker Interface (ABI) client representative and notify Headquarters Quota
and Agriculture Branch immediately.
CBP Instructions:
CBP Center and Port of Entry personnel should refrain
from processing collections with final collection code 092; warehouse withdrawals
payment should only be processed using collection code 002. Quota warehouse withdrawal final collection code
close out (using collection code 092) with zero duty amount may be processed by
CBP, once the warehouse ledger information is submitted by the warehouse proprietor. Failure to follow these instructions may cause
ACE processing problems and/or cargo release delays.
If an
entry summary or warehouse entry is liquidated prior to receipt of the final restraint
limit from NMFS, it is recommended that the importer file a protest to ensure proper
processing of any applicable refund once the final proration is determined.
1604.14.3051
1604.14.3059
1604.14.3091
1604.14.3099
Deposit
the over-quota (high) rate of duty for all entry/entry summaries presented at opening.
The over-quota
(high) rate is required for all entry/entry summaries presented at opening.
Use entry
type 02, 07, 12, 23, 32, 38, or 52
Filers
must use the applicable in-quota Chapter 16 HTSUS number.
If the
limit is not filled at opening moment, subsequent Quota entries will be processed
on a “first come, first served” fashion based on presentation date/time until the
limit for that quota ID HTSUS group is reached.
A presentation
date/time is determined for the entry summary when the last of the following conditions
is met:
·
Error-free entry summary on file.
·
Entry summary payment or statement scheduled
information transmitted to ACE.
·
Shipment arrival information at the intended
port of unlading transmitted to ACE.
The unit
of measure is kilograms (KG).
Merchandise
subject to this tariff rate quota may also be subject to other duties (Antidumping/Countervailing,
Section 232, etc.).