Certificate of Origin Not Received in Time
Producer or exporter didn’t supply a valid certificate before the entry was filed. Goods cleared at MFN rate.
USMCA & FTA Post-Import Claims · 19 USC §1520(d)
Your goods qualified for an FTA. You didn’t claim it. We file the post-import refund.
If you imported goods that qualified for USMCA, KORUS, CAFTA-DR, or any other U.S. free trade agreement — but the preferential rate wasn’t claimed at entry — you have one year from import to recover the duty difference under 19 USC §1520(d). Cardinal Customs handles certificate of origin sourcing, qualifying analysis, and the §1520(d) filing on a pure contingency basis.
1 yearFrom import to file §1520(d) claim
14+FTAs covered
100%Of duty difference recoverable
0%Upfront cost
— Why FTA Preferences Get Missed
Five reasons importers leave the preference on the table.
Broker Defaulted to MFN
Broker filed without an FTA flag because supplier documentation wasn’t received and the entry couldn’t wait.
Origin Rules Not Analyzed
Importer assumed goods didn’t qualify under regional value content (RVC) or tariff shift rules — when in fact they did.
USMCA Transition Gaps
Entries filed in the early USMCA transition were sometimes flagged NAFTA or MFN by error. USMCA-qualifying goods are recoverable under §1520(d).
— FTAs We File Under §1520(d)
Coverage matrix.
| Agreement | Common HTS chapters affected | Recovery potential |
|---|---|---|
| USMCA (Mexico / Canada) | Ch. 84, 85, 87 (auto), 39 (plastics), 73 (steel articles) | High |
| KORUS (Korea) | Ch. 84, 85, 87, 39, 73 | High — automotive, electronics |
| CAFTA-DR (Central America, DR) | Ch. 61, 62 (apparel), 64 (footwear), 16 (food) | Significant — apparel, food |
| U.S.-Australia FTA | Ch. 2, 4, 8 (food), 84 (machinery) | Medium |
| U.S.-Singapore FTA | Ch. 84, 85, 29, 30 (chemicals, pharma) | Medium |
| U.S.-Chile FTA | Ch. 8, 22 (food & wine), 74 (copper) | Medium |
| Others | Peru, Colombia, Panama, Morocco, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Israel | Lower volume |
Find out what you’re owed.
Book a free 30-minute call with Cardinal Customs. We’ll review your import footprint, estimate your IEEPA refund window, and flag other duty recovery opportunities. No commitment, no upfront fees.
Schedule a Free Call— Or call us directly
(347) 670-3777Speak with a recovery specialist. No automated menus, no gatekeeping.
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