U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has resolved a technical glitch that temporarily disrupted the processing of import duties, affecting shipments en route from the Chinese mainland and other countries granted a 90-day tariff reprieve.
The system error, which lasted over 10 hours, prevented the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)—the platform where imports and exports are declared—from updating duty rates to reflect the latest tariffs paused by U.S. President Donald Trump's April 9 announcement on “reciprocal” tariffs.
CBP confirmed that the issue has been fixed, ensuring that freight exempt from the new tariffs is now processed correctly.
The glitch had caused delays and confusion among importers, as shipments already on their way were subject to incorrect duty rates, potentially impacting trade flow during the period.
This resolution is expected to restore normalcy to the import process, especially for businesses relying on timely and accurate customs processing amidst the evolving trade policies.
