Historical reciprocal tariff for BO-origin goods

A “historical reciprocal tariff for BO-origin goods” generally refers to an additional U.S. trade measure that applied during a past period to goods whose country of origin was Bolivia (the country code “BO”). “Reciprocal” means the measure was designed to respond to trade treatment or tariff differences involving the exporting country. “IEEPA” identifies the legal authority—the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—under which the measure was administered. The word “historical” is important: it indicates that the measure may relate only to earlier entries or a prior version of the rules, not necessarily to goods entered today.

For an importer, this type of measure is separate from the ordinary customs duty in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Whether it applies typically depends on the product’s HTSUS classification, country of origin, entry date, and any exclusions or special instructions. The importer must also distinguish country of origin from the shipping country: goods shipped from Bolivia are not automatically of Bolivian origin. Origin is determined under applicable customs rules, and difficult cases may require a customs broker or trade attorney.

What to check

• Confirm whether the measure is historical or currently effective by checking the applicable official notice, HTSUS provisions, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) instructions.
• Verify the product’s complete HTSUS classification; an additional measure may apply only to particular tariff provisions or may have exclusions.
• Document the product’s country of origin using applicable substantial-transformation and origin rules, rather than relying only on the shipment or export location.
• Check the entry date and relevant version of the measure, because historical measures can depend on when the goods were entered or withdrawn from a warehouse.
• Ask a licensed customs broker or trade counsel to review uncertain origin, classification, exclusions, corrections, or refund claims before filing.