Drone Section 232 Tariffs Start as HTS Revision 18 Goes Live

CBP activates the drone Section 232 filing architecture

Proclamation 11055 · HTS Revision 18 · CSMS #69738151 issued September 2 at 3:07 p.m. EDT

The new measure applies to covered unmanned aircraft systems, docking stations and critical components entered for consumption—or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption—on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 3, 2026. CBP directs filers to report the ordinary Chapter 85 or 88 classification and one applicable heading from 9903.08.20 through 9903.08.26. CBP implementation instructions.

Classification, FTZ and drawback controls

• Covered merchandise may remain subject to antidumping, countervailing and other applicable duties; a free-trade preference does not by itself remove the Section 232 duty.
• Covered goods admitted to a U.S. foreign-trade zone generally must enter in privileged foreign status, except where the proclamation provides otherwise.
• Manufacturing drawback is narrowly available only under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b), for qualifying non-AD/CVD duties and trade-agreement-partner products meeting the proclamation’s content test. Review the legal conditions before claiming.

The tariff scope includes selected lines in Chapters 85, 88 and 99. The two highest-risk operational distinctions are whether a smaller UAS includes thermal imaging and whether a part is for a covered larger UAS. Product function, end use and technical documentation therefore matter alongside the ten-digit HTS number. Proclamation 11055 and annex.

Revision 18 also incorporates the beef quota expansion and China 301 amendments

2026 HTS Revision 18 · Published September 2, 2026

USITC’s new revision adds eight drone headings, 9903.54.02 for the temporary lean-beef quota increase, and the statistical-number amendments to four existing China Section 301 exclusions. These are now reflected in the current electronic HTS. USITC HTS archive.

Beef: a larger quota, not a new duty rate

Heading 9903.54.02 implements the previously announced temporary addition of 300,000 metric tons of specified lean-beef trimmings from “other countries or areas,” covering statistical reporting numbers 0201.30.5091, 0201.30.5097, 0202.30.5091 and 0202.30.5097. The three 100,000-metric-ton tranches open in September, October and the October 31–November 30 period. The underlying rates do not change. CBP quota bulletin QB 26-230.

China 301: statistical alignment, not a new exclusion

Revision 18 also embeds USTR’s conforming amendments for four existing product exclusions, effective for entries on or after July 1. The revised references cover successor reporting numbers in 8413.91.90 and 3926.90.99. The change preserves existing product coverage; it does not create a new exclusion, extend one or reduce a Section 301 rate. Separate CBP entry guidance remains pending. USTR notice, 91 FR 56538.

OFAC adds coal and Carbozulia to three general-license frameworks

General Licenses 51D, 54C and 55A · Issued September 2, 2026

OFAC replaced three earlier licenses and expressly added Venezuelan-origin coal and transactions involving Carbozulia to defined minerals-related authorizations. The revisions are not blanket sanctions relief: each license has different eligible parties, activity boundaries, payment conditions, reporting requirements and excluded counterparties. OFAC release page.

GL 51D and GL 54C also prescribe where certain payments involving blocked Venezuelan persons must be placed, and the licenses retain restrictions involving Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, specified China-related participation, blocked vessels and other blocked property. Review beneficial ownership and payment routing before relying on a license. GL 51D · GL 54C · GL 55A.

New deposit instructions affect Austrian OCTG and Mexican heavy-walled pipe

Austria OCTG: preliminary 10.17% countervailing-duty deposit

Commerce preliminarily found a 10.17% countervailable subsidy rate for voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG and all other Austrian producers/exporters of subject oil-country tubular goods. CBP is directed to suspend liquidation and collect cash deposits at 10.17% for subject entries made on or after September 3. This is a preliminary CVD determination, not the companion antidumping result; the aligned final determination is currently due January 12, 2027 unless the schedule changes. Commerce preliminary determination.

Mexico heavy-walled rectangular pipe: final review rates take effect

For entries on or after September 3, the final 2023–2024 administrative-review cash-deposit rates are 31.23% for Forza Steel, S.A. de C.V., 7.45% for Productos Laminados de Monterrey S.A. de C.V., and 16.84% for five named non-examined companies. The order’s all-others rate remains 4.91% for firms without a more specific completed-segment rate. Assessment of review-period entries follows separate importer-specific instructions. Commerce final results.

USITC reviews the Samsung mobile-device patent determination

Investigation 337-TA-1432 · Commission notice published September 3

The Commission will review portions of the administrative law judge’s final initial determination in Maxell’s case involving specified Samsung mobile devices. It requested briefing on infringement, domestic-industry issues, remedy, the public interest and bonding. An ALJ recommendation is not an import ban: the Commission has not yet issued a limited exclusion order or cease-and-desist order. Importers should preserve model and patent-feature mapping while the review is pending. Commission review notice.

Actions for trade and compliance teams

1. Load HTS Revision 18 before filing September 3 entries. Confirm the broker, ERP and screening tables contain 9903.08.20–9903.08.26 and 9903.54.02.
2. Create a UAS decision tree. Capture platform weight, thermal-imaging capability, docking-station/component function, end use, origin and any approved onshoring plan.
3. Block premature partner headings. Configure 9903.08.23, 9903.08.24 and 9903.08.26 as “await CBP instruction,” not as self-service rate choices.
4. Review FTZ and drawback assumptions. Flag covered zone admissions for privileged foreign status and require legal review before any manufacturing-drawback claim.
5. Re-paper Venezuela activity. Match each activity to GL 51D, 54C or 55A, screen ownership and vessels, validate payment routing, and calendar the applicable 10-day and recurring reports.
6. Update AD/CVD matrices. Apply the Austria CVD and Mexico AD rates only to in-scope merchandise and the correct exporter/producer combination.

What to watch

• CBP follow-up for 9903.08.23, .24 and .26: the next message should resolve when and how partner-country and Commerce-plan headings may be transmitted.
• February 9, 2027 UAS transition: specified parts move into the 25% structure and temporary heading 9903.08.25 expires.
• China 301 entry mechanics: USTR says CBP will issue separate instructions for the July 1 statistical-number amendments.
• Austria OCTG final phase: monitor the companion AD/CVD schedule and any postponement before the currently aligned January 12, 2027 final date.
• Investigation 337-TA-1432: watch for the Commission’s final violation and remedy decision before treating any Samsung model as excluded.

Questions and answers