Useful Links for Importers
Official government portals, tariff lookup tools, trade compliance databases, and regulatory resources — everything an importer or customs broker needs in one place.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
The primary federal agency responsible for U.S. border security and trade enforcement.
Main portal for all CBP trade programs, regulations, and import/export guidance.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade
Step-by-step guide covering entry types, commodity rules, and the import process.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-into-united-states
Official index of all CBP forms — 3461, 7501, 301, 4811, and every other official form.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/publications/forms
CBP revenue, duty collections, seizure data, and enforcement statistics.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/trade
CBP's library of "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know" guides on classification, valuation, marking, and more.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/rulings/informed-compliance-publications
List of goods that are prohibited or restricted from being imported into the United States.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items
ACE — Automated Commercial Environment
The U.S. government's centralized "Single Window" system for processing all imports and exports.
The live ACE portal where brokers, importers, and carriers file entries, ISF, and manage accounts.
https://ace.cbp.gov
Official CBP guide to what ACE is, who uses it, and how to access it.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated
Step-by-step instructions for brokers, importers, carriers, and other trade participants.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/how-to-use-ace
Live ACE availability, planned maintenance windows, and CSMS notices.
https://trade.cbp.dhs.gov/ace/dashboard/public
Official CBP guide to Importer Security Filing requirements for ocean cargo.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/importer-security-filing-isf
Tariff Classification & HTS
Tools for classifying goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and looking up applicable duty rates.
Search the live Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States by keyword or HTS number.
https://hts.usitc.gov/search
Download the full HTS, browse by chapter, or access archived schedules.
https://hts.usitc.gov
Search CBP's database of 300,000+ official rulings on tariff classification, valuation, and country of origin.
https://rulings.cbp.gov
Census Bureau tool for finding Schedule B export classification codes (used for AES/EEI filings).
https://uscensus.prod.3ceonline.com
World Customs Organization's international Harmonized System — the global classification standard underlying the HTSUS.
https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/instrument-and-tools/hs-online.aspx
Trade Agreements & Preference Programs
Resources for claiming duty savings under free trade agreements, GSP, and other preference programs.
CBP's official USMCA hub — rules of origin, certification templates, and guidance for U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-agreements/usmca
Official CBP template for USMCA origin certification (no specific form required — use this or embed in invoice).
https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/certification-origin-template
International Trade Administration tool showing FTA duty rates for goods exported from the U.S.
https://tcc.export.gov/Trade_Agreements/FTA_Tariff_Tool/index.asp
USTR resources on GSP, which allows duty-free imports of certain products from eligible developing countries.
https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-system-preferences-gsp
Full list of all U.S. FTAs with links to agreement texts, tariff schedules, and implementation rules.
https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements
Partner Government Agencies (PGAs)
Other federal agencies that regulate the import of specific product categories.
FDA's official import hub — prior notice, detention, refusal, and product-specific guidance.
https://www.fda.gov/industry/import-program
Submit FDA Prior Notice for food, dietary supplements, and animal food imports.
https://www.access.fda.gov
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service — permits, phytosanitary requirements, and country-specific rules.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/importexport
Federal Communications Commission guidance on importing radio-frequency and telecommunications equipment.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/importing-devices
Consumer Product Safety Commission information on import safety requirements and detained shipments.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Import-Surveillance
EPA requirements for importing motor vehicles, engines, and non-road equipment.
https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines
Trade Data & Statistics
Official tools for researching U.S. import/export volumes, trade patterns, and commodity data.
Query U.S. import and export trade statistics by HTS number, country, or time period.
https://dataweb.usitc.gov
Monthly U.S. trade in goods statistics, trade balance data, and detailed commodity-level reports.
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/data/index.html
Detailed U.S. import and export merchandise trade statistics, searchable by HS code and partner country.
https://usatrade.census.gov
CBP-specific data: revenue collected, entries processed, seizures, and anti-dumping/CVD enforcement.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/trade
Laws & Regulations
Official sources for U.S. customs law, federal regulations, and trade policy.
The full Code of Federal Regulations governing U.S. customs duties, procedures, and enforcement (19 CFR).
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19
Official government journal for proposed and final CBP rules, duty rate changes, and trade policy notices.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/customs-and-border-protection
Antidumping and countervailing duty orders, investigations, and scope rulings from the Dept. of Commerce.
https://www.trade.gov/antidumping-and-countervailing-duties-adcvd
Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control — SDN list, country sanctions, and compliance guidance for importers.
https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information
Active WROs and findings for goods made with forced labor — required to check before importing from flagged regions.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/forced-labor/withhold-release-orders-and-findings
Notice: All links on this page go directly to official U.S. government websites (.gov) or international organizations. URLs and page structures on external sites may change. If a link appears broken, search the agency's homepage for the resource. This page is updated periodically but is not a real-time monitoring service.
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