CBP provides entry guidance for USTR’s conforming amendments to four Section 301 China product exclusions.

Section 301 is a US trade measure that can impose additional duties on covered products from China. The US Trade Representative (USTR) determines the measure and any product exclusions, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) explains how importers should claim and document those rules when filing entries. “Conforming amendments” generally means technical changes made so an exclusion’s product description or tariff provisions align correctly with the governing tariff schedule.

This type of guidance typically affects importers, customs brokers, and other parties entering Chinese-origin merchandise that may fall within the listed product exclusions. An exclusion does not automatically apply to every similar product: eligibility depends on the product’s classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), its detailed physical characteristics, and the exclusion’s exact wording. Correctly applying the guidance can affect whether additional Section 301 duties are reported, and it may require entry corrections or supporting records.

What to check

• Compare the product’s HTSUS classification and country of origin with the exclusion’s exact scope; do not rely only on a product name or marketing description.
• Review the current USTR exclusion notice and CBP entry guidance, including any conforming tariff-schedule language and instructions for claiming the exclusion.
• Give your customs broker complete product specifications, invoices, technical literature, and origin records so the exclusion claim can be evaluated and supported.
• Check whether the exclusion applies to the specific entry date, entry type, and filing or correction procedure involved; confirm these details in official CBP and USTR sources.
• Keep evidence showing why the merchandise meets every element of the exclusion, and obtain customs-broker or trade counsel advice when the classification or product scope is uncertain.