A.N. Deringer, Inc. is advising importers to prepare for the implementation of a 50% tariff under Section 338 on certain Canadian-origin and USMCA-related goods. Importers that may be impacted should take immediate steps to review upcoming shipments, assess duty exposure, and confirm bond sufficiency.
A complete list of impacted materials is available in the Section 338 product listing. Importers may also wish to review Deringer’s previous Section 338 Trade Alerts issued on July 24 and August 6, 2026.
Recommended Actions for Importers
1. Review Shipment Timing
Where possible, importers should work closely with their carriers and transportation providers to ensure affected shipments cross the U.S. border before 12:01 a.m. EST on August 19, 2026.
Because Deringer cannot control the timing of a shipment’s arrival and entry into the United States, customers should proactively verify crossing schedules directly with their carriers.
2. Prepare for Advance Duty Payment Requirements
For shipments crossing on or after August 19, 2026, Deringer’s policy will require duty payment in advance. Electronic payment must be received approximately three days prior to the Customs summary date, which is generally about four days after entry filing.
Failure to provide duty payment before summary processing may result in consequences imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including:
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- Delinquent duty bills and interest charges
- Cargo holds or delays
- Cash payment requirements for future entries
- Additional sanctions or enforcement actions
3. Evaluate Customs Bond Sufficiency
The additional 50% duty exposure could quickly exhaust existing customs bond amounts for some importers. Deringer recommends that importers review bond sufficiency immediately and determine whether an increased bond amount may be necessary.
Because bond increases may take time to process, customers should begin this review as soon as possible to avoid disruptions to future shipments.
