CSMS 66242844·Operational·September 15, 2025·View on csms.cbp.gov ↗

Updated Guidance - Implementation of the United States-Japan Agreement and Modification of Duties on Imports from Japan

Plain-English explanation

CSMS 66242844 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin (operational), published on September 15, 2025. It carries the official CBP guidance brokers and importers must follow for the topic — "Updated Guidance - Implementation of the United States-Japan Agreement and Modification of Duties on Imports from Japan". 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 # 66242844 - Updated Guidance - Implementation of the United States-Japan Agreement and Modification of Duties on Imports from Japan U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 09/15/2025 05:55 PM EDT Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS # 66242844 - Updated Guidance - Implementation of the United States-Japan Agreement and Modification of Duties on Imports from Japan Executive Order 14345, “Implementing the United States-Japan Agreement” (EO 14345) signed on September 4, 2025, was issued pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232). The Executive Order orders modifications to the IEEPA and Section 232 tariffs applicable to imported articles of Japan to implement the framework agreement between the United States and Japan (Agreement) announced by the President in July of 2025. As explained in the Executive Order, under the Agreement, the United States will apply a baseline 15 percent tariff on nearly all Japanese imports entering the United States, alongside separate sector-specific treatment for automobiles and automobile parts and aerospace products. Specifically, EO 14345 modifies the additional rates of duty applicable to products of Japan set forth in the following five previous presidential actions: Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), as amended; Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025, (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 9704 of March 18, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 10962 of July 30, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Copper Into the United States), as amended. EO 14345 required the Secretary of Commerce (Commerce) to publish a notice in the Federal Register to make the necessary modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) as necessary and appropriate to effectuate the EO. On September 15, 2025, Commerce posted the implementing notice, Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the United States-Japan Agreement, with the relevant HTSUS modifications for public inspection on the Federal Register ’s website, with a scheduled publication date of September 16, 2025. This updated guidance is based on the HTSUS modifications announced by Commerce in the notice implementing EO 14345 as posted for public inspection on September 15, 2025 and scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025. GUIDANCE APPLICATION OF MODIFIED DUTY RATES General Reciprocal Tariff The reciprocal tariff for products of Japan is dependent on the Column 1 ad valorem or ad valorem equivalent duty rate applicable to the products. For a product of Japan with a Column 1 duty rate greater than or equal to 15 percent, the additional reciprocal tariff is zero (0). Use HTSUS heading 9903.02.72. For a product of Japan with a Column 1 duty rate less than 15 percent, the sum of the Column 1 and the reciprocal tariff rate is 15 percent. Use HTSUS heading 9903.02.73. When submitting an entry summary to claim the 15 percent ad valorem duty rate on products of Japan, file using 9903.02.73 followed by the appropriate classification under Chapter 1 to 97, HTSUS. ACE will replace the duty reported for these two HTSUS classifications with the 15 percent duty rate. Consistent with U.S. note 2(v)(xv) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as modified by Commerce in the notice implementing EO 14345 as posted for public inspection on September 15, 2025 and scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025, for any product of Japan subject to a specific or compound rate of duty under column 1-General, the ad valorem equivalent rate of duty of such product shall be determined by dividing the amount of duty payable under column 1-General by the customs value of the product. For example, if a product were subject to a specific duty of 50 cents per kilogram, and one kilogram of the product were entered with a customs value of $ 10, then the ad valorem equivalent rate of duty would be obtained by dividing 50 cents by $ 10, yielding 5 percent. The above action applies to products of Japan entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 7, 2025. As of September 16, 2025, heading 9903.02.30 will no longer be available for use in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for entries of products of Japan that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 16, 2025. New HTSUS headings 9903.02.72 and 9903.02.73 will be deployed in ACE at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 16, 2025, on the date that Commerce’s notice with the HTSUS modifications implementing EO 14345 will be published in the Federal Register. As an update to the guidance issued through CSMS 66146676 "Interim Guidance: Retroactive Implementation of the US-Japan Agreement" on September 6, 2025, filers can update their previously filed entries to apply the newly issued HTSUS numbers after they are deployed on September 16, 2025. For products covered by these new HTSUS provisions that are entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 7, 2025, filers should take action to correct entries as necessary to reflect the modified duty rate applicable under headings 9903.02.72 or 9903.02.73, as soon as possible within 10 days of the cargo’s release from CBP custody and prior to estimated duties being deposited to avoid needing refunds. For unliquidated entries for which estimated duties have already been deposited, importers may request a refund upon liquidation by filing a post summary correction. For liquidated entries, importers may request a refund by filing a protest pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1514. Civil Aircraft Products of Japan that fall under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft, except for unmanned aircraft, are no longer subject to additional tariffs imposed through: Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), as amended; Proclamation 9704 of March 18, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 10962 of July 30, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Copper Into the United States), as amended. For such civil aircraft articles that are no longer subject to these additional tariffs, use heading 9903.96.02. 9903.96.02: Effective with respect to products entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time September 16, 2025, articles of civil aircraft (all aircraft other than military aircraft and unmanned aircraft); their engines, parts, and components; their other parts, components, and subassemblies; and ground flight simulators and their parts and components that are products of Japan, that otherwise meet the criteria of General Note 6 of HTSUS (Articles Eligible for Duty-Free Treatment Pursuant to the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft), but regardless of whether a product is entered under a provision for which the rate of duty “Free (C)” appears in the “Special” sub column. Except as provided above, all other provisions of Executive Order 14257, as amended, remain in effect. Automobiles and Automobile Parts Executive Order 14345 and Commerce’s notice implementing EO 14345, as posted for public inspection on September 15, 2025 and scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025, modify the Section 232 duties on passenger vehicles and light trucks (automobiles) and automobile parts that are products of Japan and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 16, 2025. The Section 232 tariff on automobiles and automobile parts that are products of Japan is based on the ad valorem Column 1 duty rate applicable to the products. Currently all automobiles and automobile parts that are encompassed by HTSUS headings 9903.94.40, 9903.94.41, 9903.94.42, and 9903.94.43 have only ad valorem Column 1 duty rates, so ad valorem conversion is not required. Automobiles For an automobile that is a product of Japan with a Column 1 duty rate greater than or equal to 15 percent ad valorem, the additional Section 232 duty rate is zero (0). Use heading 9903.94.40. For an automobile that is a product of Japan with a Column 1 duty rate less than 15 percent ad valorem, the combined Column 1 and additional Section 232 duty rate is 15 percent ad valorem. Use heading 9903.94.41. Automobile Parts For an automobile part that is a product of Japan with a Column 1 duty rate greater than or equal to 15 percent ad valorem, the additional Section 232 duty rate is zero (0). Use heading 9903.94.42. For an automobile part that is a product of Japan with a Column 1 duty rate less than 15 percent ad valorem, the combined Column 1 and additional Section 232 duty rate is 15 percent ad valorem. Use heading 9903.94.43. When submitting an entry summary to claim the 15 percent ad valorem duty rate on automobiles and automobile parts that are products of Japan, file using the appropriate HTSUS heading listed above followed by the appropriate classification under Chapter 1 to 97, HTSUS. ACE will replace the duty reported for these two HTSUS classifications with the 15 percent duty rate. Report the 15 percent ad valorem duty on the Chapter 99 HTSUS classification and report the entry summary line value on the appropriate Chapter 1 to 97 HTSUS classification. Products Subject to Section 232 All products of Japan that are subject to Section 232 actions will continue to be exempt from Reciprocal tariffs. These Section 232 actions include: Proclamation 9704 of March 18, 2018, (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018, (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 10962 of July 30, 2025, (Adjusting Imports of Copper Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), as amended. Filers should continue to file using HTSUS heading 9903.01.33 for products that are exempt from Reciprocal tariffs because they are subject to Section 232 actions. The automobiles and automobile parts subject to the duties described above are subject to the stacking provisions of Executive Order 14289, “Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles,” 90 FR 18907 (May 2, 2025), as modified by Proclamation 10947, “Adjusting Imports of Aluminum and Steel into the United States,” 90 FR 24199 (June 3, 2025). For purposes of applying the above provisions, automobiles and automobile parts that are products of Japan subject to the zero (0) percent Section 232 duty under headings 9903.94.40 and 9903.94.42 are not considered to be subject to Section 232 automobile and automobile parts duties. Exemptions from Reciprocal Tariffs The other exemptions provided for under Reciprocal tariffs, (9903.01.25, 9903.01.30-9903.01.33, and 9903.01.34), continue to apply to products of Japan. HTS SEQUENCING For entry summary lines including multiple HTSUS numbers, the following sequence must be followed. 1. Chapter 98 subheading (if applicable) 2. Chapter 99 heading(s) for additional duties (if applicable) 3. For trade remedies, if applicable, First report the Chapter 99 heading for Section 301, Followed by the Chapter 99 heading for IEEPA Fentanyl, Followed by the Chapter 99 heading for IEEPA Reciprocal, Followed by the Chapter 99 heading for Section 232 or 201 duties, Followed by the Chapter 99 heading for Section 201 or 232 quota 4. Chapter 99 heading(s) for REPLACEMENT duty or other use, e.g., MTB or other provisions (if applicable). Please note that replacement duty for purposes of IEEPA or Section 232 is to be included in #3 above. 5. Chapter 99 heading for other quota (not covered by #3) (if applicable) 6. Chapter 1 to 97 subheading for the commodity tariff The entered value of the commodity covered by the entry summary line should be reported on the Chapter 1-97 subheading, except if Chapter 98 reporting provisions require the entered value to be reported differently. CBP will provide additional guidance to the trade community through CSMS messages as appropriate. If you encounter any errors in filing an entry summary, contact your CBP client representative or the ACE Help Desk. Questions regarding this message should be directed to Trade Remedy at traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov . Related CSMS Messages: 66146676 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 66242844?

CSMS 66242844 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin titled "Updated Guidance - Implementation of the United States-Japan Agreement and Modification of Duties on Imports from Japan". 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 66242844 published?

CBP published CSMS 66242844 on September 15, 2025. 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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