CSMS 49573954·Operational·September 24, 2021·View on csms.cbp.gov ↗

GUIDANCE: Recommended Submission of Spreadsheets for Entry Changes Being Protested

Plain-English explanation

CSMS 49573954 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin (operational), published on September 24, 2021. It carries the official CBP guidance brokers and importers must follow for the topic — "GUIDANCE: Recommended Submission of Spreadsheets for Entry Changes Being Protested". CSMS messages are the operational layer between Commerce determinations and at-the-border collections: when Commerce publishes a new rate, scope ruling, or instruction, CBP turns it into a CSMS that ACE/ACS systems and brokers act on.

Message body

Full text as published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CSMS #49573954 - GUIDANCE: Recommended Submission of Spreadsheets for Entry Changes Being Protested U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 09/24/2021 12:55 PM EDT Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS #49573954 - GUIDANCE: Recommended Submission of Spreadsheets for Entry Changes Being Protested The purpose of this Cargo System Messaging Service (CSMS) message is to provide the trade community with information concerning additional data that may be provided with protest submissions. Over the past two years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seen a marked increase in the number of protest filings. To assist CBP with processing protests, CBP is recommending that protest filers upload a spreadsheet into the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Protest Module containing certain data elements for CBP’s use in updating the entry summaries for approved protests. As was referenced during CBP’s December 9, 2020 Protest Webinar ( https://www.cbp.gov/trade/stakeholder-engagement/webinars ), the submission of a spreadsheet containing the entry and entry line changes for a protest is a best practice allowing a more streamlined process to review and decide protests. Protest filers are still required to provide the ‘Reason for Protest’, a narrative that is specific, clear, and concise as to the overall claim of the protest. The spreadsheet is not required to be submitted with the protest; however, CBP highly recommends that the trade community submit a spreadsheet to assist CBP. The spreadsheet should be uploaded into the ACE Protest Module using MS Excel, CSV, or TXT format and be titled “Protest Details Spreadsheet”. This will allow the spreadsheet to be easily identified from other supporting documentation in the Protest Module. Protests filed in paper with a spreadsheet at the Port should be formatted and titled the same way. The first four columns on the spreadsheet will remain static. These first four spreadsheet column headings will contain the Entry Number in the first column, the Entry Line Number in the second column, the original entry data that is being protested (Change From) in the third column, and the new change based on the protest (Change To) in the fourth column. Filers may add additional columns of information after column four if needed. Additionally, since each Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center) specializes in separate industries, additional data may be useful to expedite protest processing. Please work with the Center assigned to the Importer of Record of the protest entries to determine the additional information that may assist the Center. Questions concerning protests should be directed to ot-protest@cbp.dhs.gov . Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page . You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com . This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Customs and Border Protection . Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes. Powered by Privacy Policy | Cookie Statement | Help

Frequently asked questions

What is CSMS 49573954?

CSMS 49573954 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin titled "GUIDANCE: Recommended Submission of Spreadsheets for Entry Changes Being Protested". CSMS bulletins are the operational instructions CBP issues to brokers, importers, and ACE filers covering rate changes, system updates, scope guidance, and other day-to-day customs-operations changes.

When was CSMS 49573954 published?

CBP published CSMS 49573954 on September 24, 2021. The bulletin's instructions are typically operative as of the publication date unless the body specifies a different effective date.

Is the CBP CSMS the legally binding instruction?

Yes — for at-the-border filing and entry collection. CSMS messages translate Commerce's Federal Register determinations into operational CBP instructions that ACE/ACS systems and brokers execute. The Federal Register notice is the underlying legal authority; the CSMS is the operational implementation. Both should be read together when reconciling a rate or scope change.

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