Customer Advisory


Dear Valued Customer,

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a 90-day postponement of certain duties, taxes, and fees for “importers suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19.” If you qualify and wish to take advantage of the Duty Deferral Program, we are here to help you promptly implement the proper duty payment arrangements. 

To be eligible, an importer must be able to demonstrate financial hardship, which requires (1) full or partial suspension of operations in March and April due to governmental orders, and (2) reduction in gross receipts to less than 60% of the same period in 2019.

Note that there are some important restrictions to this deferral. This temporary postponement applies to formal entries of merchandise entered or withdrawn from a warehouse or a Foreign Trade Zone, for consumption in March or April of 2020. The program does not apply to deposits of estimated duties, taxes, or fees that have already been paid. Additionally, it does not apply to entries involving antidumping duties, countervailing duties, Section 232 duties, Section 201 duties, or Section 301 duties.

For full details, read CSMS bulletins: #42423171 and #42421561 . CBP has also posted a list of frequently asked questions .

For direct assistance with Customs House Brokerage and for services related to the implementation of this new program, please contact your Yusen Logistics account representative or email our CHB team at chbcompliance@us.yusen-logistics.com .

Given the complicated nature of Duty Deferral Program’s eligibility and the potential to need experienced legal guidance, we’ve confirmed that the attorneys at the Benesch law firm are ready to undertake the legal diligence to evaluate the regulatory aspects of this new program relative to your specific business. If you need to engage specialized counsel, you may wish to contact Jonathan Todd ( JTodd@beneschlaw.com ) . A partner with the firm’s Transportation & Logistics Practice, Jonatthan is also a licensed customs broker. Benesch was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the “Transportation Law Firm of the Year” for 2020.

Working promptly, and with expert guidance, we can help deliver the relief intended by the Duty Deferral Program.

Sincerely,
Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc.
We are here to help.
We continue to closely monitor both global and local impact in regards to the Coronavirus. Yusen Logistics remains fully operational around the globe and we hope you find reassurance that we are well-prepared, remain agile as things evolve -- and provide information that is useful for your supply chain planning.