Forced-labor Section 301 — Ecuador — 10% additional duty

A Section 301 measure is a U.S. trade action that can impose an additional duty on goods connected to a specified country or trade practice. The additional duty is collected on top of the normal customs duty and any other applicable trade measures. The measure title identifies the country, issue, and product scope, but the official tariff instructions determine exactly which goods are covered.

This type of measure typically affects commercial imports whose country of origin is the named country and whose tariff classification falls within the listed scope. It matters because an importer may owe an extra duty, must report the correct Chapter 99 tariff provision in the entry, and remains responsible for accurate classification, origin, valuation, and documentation. A forced-labor concern may also involve separate admissibility or detention rules, so an importer should not treat payment of an additional duty as resolving a forced-labor compliance issue.

What to check

• Confirm the product’s HTSUS classification, including any required Chapter 99 reporting provision, against the official measure instructions.
• Determine the product’s country of origin under U.S. customs rules; do not rely only on the shipping country or the location of the seller.
• Read the official scope, product exclusions, and any exceptions carefully, including how the measure applies to components, transformed goods, or specific tariff lines.
• Check the entry date and the current official duty instructions before filing, because measures and implementation guidance can change.
• Keep records supporting classification, origin, valuation, and supply-chain due diligence, and consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney when coverage is uncertain.