CSMS Weekly Digest: Apr 11 - Apr 17, 2026
Here's your weekly summary of 8 CSMS messages from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Action Required(6)
Six items demand attention this week, led by updated Jones Act waiver guidance, the April 20 CAPE deployment for IEEPA refunds, and a lifted yellowfin tuna import prohibition for Panama. Brokers should also review the updated AESTIR used vehicle HTS classifications and confirm ACE Production maintenance timing ahead of the weekend window.
Updated Guidance #2: Implementation of Jones Act Waiver issued to the Department of War, dated March 17, 2026
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is providing updated guidance to CSMS #68096516 and CSMS #68180454. This guidance includes an updated list of potentially covered products (attached) as of Apr...
ACE Production Standard Invasive Maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, April 18, 2026, to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, April 19, 2026
There will be ACE production standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, April 18, 2026, to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, April 19, 2026.
ACE Collections: Reminder – Requirement for PMS Test Participants to Electronically Pay Supplemental Duty Bills
As a reminder, per CSMS #66599946 issued October 22, 2025, Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS) Test participants _*must submit electronic payment*_ of supplemental duty bills (SDB) for which the SDB resu...
National Marine Fisheries Service Lifts Yellowfin Tuna Import Prohibition for Panama under the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) issued an affirmative finding to Panama for a period of five years, effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. This affirmative finding lif...
Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) – Appendix U – HTS/Schedule B Classifications Requiring Used Vehicle Reporting
*Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR)* will be implementing an update to the Appendix U list to allow the following HTS Codes for Used Vehicles: * 8705.90.0010 * 8705.90...
UPDATE - Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) for IEEPA Refunds, April 20, 2026, Deployment
On March 2, 2026, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued its formal mandate to the Court of International Trade (CIT) with respect to duties collected pursuant to the International...
Policy Guidance(1)
CBP has issued Updated Guidance #2 on implementing the Jones Act waiver granted to the Department of War, dated March 17, 2026. Brokers handling affected shipments should review this update immediately to ensure compliance with current waiver parameters.
Pga Update(1)
NMFS has lifted the yellowfin tuna import prohibition for Panama under the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program, reopening that trade lane for qualifying shipments. Brokers should confirm that required TTVP documentation is in order before filing entries for Panamanian yellowfin tuna.
System Update(3)
Three system changes are in effect or approaching: the CAPE module for IEEPA refunds deploys to ACE Production on April 20, AESTIR Appendix U has been updated with revised HTS/Schedule B classifications requiring used vehicle reporting, and automated container seal change transmissions to ACE Manifest for ocean and rail are now live as of April 9. Brokers and filers should update internal workflows and AES configurations accordingly.
Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) – Appendix U – HTS/Schedule B Classifications Requiring Used Vehicle Reporting
*Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR)* will be implementing an update to the Appendix U list to allow the following HTS Codes for Used Vehicles: * 8705.90.0010 * 8705.90...
UPDATE - Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) for IEEPA Refunds, April 20, 2026, Deployment
On March 2, 2026, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued its formal mandate to the Court of International Trade (CIT) with respect to duties collected pursuant to the International...
Automated Transmission of Container Seal Changes to ACE Manifest for Ocean and Rail Shipments – Deployed to ACE PROD Environment, April 9, 2026
REMINDER: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deployed updates to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Production (PROD) environment to enable the automated transmission of container seal c...
System Maintenance(2)
ACE Production will undergo standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, April 18 through 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, April 19 — plan filings around this outage window. ACE Certification maintenance was also scheduled for April 15 from 5:00–8:00 p.m. ET.
ACE Production Standard Invasive Maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, April 18, 2026, to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, April 19, 2026
There will be ACE production standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, April 18, 2026, to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, April 19, 2026.
ACE Certification Standard Invasive Maintenance Window on April 15, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
There will be an ACE certification standard invasive maintenance window on April 15, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
Deadline Reminder(1)
PMS test participants are reminded that supplemental duty bills must be paid electronically — paper or manual payments are not acceptable under the test program. Brokers participating in PMS should verify their electronic payment processes are in place to avoid compliance issues.