Forced-labor Section 301 — Nicaragua — 12.5% additional duty

A Section 301 measure is a U.S. trade action that can impose an additional duty on covered goods from a specified country. In this case, the measure is described as relating to forced-labor concerns involving Nicaragua. The listed additional duty is separate from the product’s ordinary customs duty and may apply in addition to other tariffs or trade measures.

The measure typically affects importers of goods that meet the measure’s product scope and country-of-origin rules—not necessarily every product associated with the country. Importers should use the measure’s legal description, tariff provisions, and any exclusions or exceptions to determine coverage. The importer of record is generally responsible for making a complete and accurate entry, including reporting any applicable additional duty, so the measure can affect landed cost, classification, documentation, and compliance risk.

What to check

• Check the measure’s official product scope and identify whether the product’s HTSUS classification is covered; do not rely on a product name alone.
• Confirm the product’s country of origin under U.S. customs rules, including where substantial transformation occurred; shipping location is not always origin.
• Review the official Section 301 instructions for the required entry reporting, duty treatment, exclusions, and any applicable product-specific provisions.
• Verify the ordinary HTSUS classification and all other potentially applicable trade measures separately from the Section 301 measure.
• Keep records supporting classification, origin, supply-chain information, and any claimed exclusion, and ask a customs broker or trade counsel to review uncertain cases.