USTR finalized Section 301 action against Nicaragua concerning labor rights, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.

A Section 301 measure is a U.S. trade remedy that may respond to a foreign government’s acts, policies, or practices that are considered unreasonable, discriminatory, or harmful to U.S. commerce. In this context, the measure is associated with Nicaragua and concerns labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law. The measure may impose an additional tariff or another trade remedy on covered imports, but its actual scope is determined by the official measure details.

The measure typically affects importers bringing covered merchandise from Nicaragua into the United States, as well as customs brokers, suppliers, and other parties responsible for entry information. Section 301 treatment is separate from ordinary customs duty and is generally identified by the product’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) classification and country of origin. An importer should not assume that every Nicaraguan product is covered: applicability depends on the official product scope, exclusions, effective provisions, and any required entry instructions.

What to check

• Confirm the product’s correct HTSUS classification, including all required digits; Section 301 coverage is often tied to specified tariff provisions.
• Verify the product’s country of origin under U.S. origin rules, rather than relying only on the shipping location or the supplier’s address.
• Compare the official Section 301 measure, product lists, exclusions, and current Customs and Border Protection (CBP) instructions with the planned entry details.
• Check whether the Section 301 amount, if applicable, must be reported separately from the normal customs duty and whether any special Chapter 99 reporting applies.
• Ask a licensed customs broker or trade attorney to review uncertain classification, origin, exclusions, or scope questions before entry.