🇺🇸 Trade Corridor Profile

USA Trade Corridor

The United States is the world's largest import market — and a high-value destination for MENA exporters. Navigate HTS-10 classification, USMCA benefits, Section 301/232 tariffs, FDA/USDA/FCC certifications, and CBP entry procedures from one platform.

Classify Your Product → US CBP HS Lookup →
~4% average MFN tariff
10-digit US HTS-10 import codes
USMCA active US–Mexico–Canada agreement
ACE CBP single-window portal
HS Classification

HTS-10 — US import tariff classification

The United States uses the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) with 10-digit subcodes for import classification. Schedule B codes (10-digit) are used for exports; HTS-10 codes are used for imports. MENA exporters shipping to the US must use the correct HTS-10 to determine duty rates, PGA requirements, and quota eligibility. Routiply maps your HS-6 international code to the correct US HTS-10 subcode automatically.

🏛️
CBP — Customs and Border Protection ACE portal, HTS lookup, entry procedures
📊
USITC — Harmonized Tariff Schedule Official HTS database, duty rates, notes
⚠️ HTS vs Schedule B: Schedule B (10-digit) is for US exports. HTS-10 (10-digit) is for US imports. Using the wrong code on export documentation will cause CBP clearance delays for your buyer.

US Tariff Summary

MFN duty range (general)0–35%
Chemicals (HS 28–38)0–10%
Textiles & apparel (HS 50–63)0–20%
Electronics (HS 84–85)0–15%
Machinery (HS 84)0–12%
Automotive (HS 87)2.5–25%
CBP & Partner Government Agencies

Clearance requirements and sector regulators

🏛️

CBP — US Customs & Border Protection

Primary federal agency for US import clearance

  • ACE portal — single-window filing for entry, duty, PGA holds
  • Informal entry: shipments < $2,500 — streamlined clearance
  • Formal entry: shipments > $2,500 — bond required, entry summary
  • ISF filing: 24h before vessel loading for ocean freight
🍎

FDA — Food & Drug Administration

Food, beverages, cosmetics, medical devices

  • Prior Notice: must be filed before food arrives at US port
  • Food facility registration (FFR) required for domestic and foreign facilities
  • Cosmetics labeling compliant with FDA requirements
  • fda.gov/food — guidance and database
🌾

USDA — Dept. of Agriculture

APHIS permits, phytosanitary certificates, meat/plant products

  • APHIS import permit: required for live plants, seeds, animal products
  • Phytosanitary Certificate: from origin country's agriculture ministry
  • Meat and poultry: USDA FSIS import inspection required
  • aphis.usda.gov — permit applications
⚛️

EPA — Environmental Protection Agency

Vehicles, engines, fuels, chemicals (TSCA)

  • TSCA: Toxic Substances Control Act — chemicals must be reviewed
  • Vehicle emissions standards for import vehicles
  • Fuel standards ( Reid Vapor Pressure) for imported petroleum
  • epa.gov — compliance guidance
📡

FCC — Federal Communications Commission

Electronics, radio equipment, telecommunications

  • FCClabel: electronics must show FCC compliance or be rejected
  • Radio frequency devices require FCC certification or verification
  • Telecommunications equipment: TCB (Telecommunications Certification Body) review
  • fcc.gov — equipment authorization
Trade Agreements

USMCA, MEFTA, AGOA, GSP — what's available for MENA

🇺🇸 USMCA

US–Mexico–Canada Agreement (replaced NAFTA). Relevant for MENA goods transiting or manufactured via Mexico — rules of origin for automotive, textiles, and processed agricultural products. MENA exporters can benefit if the last substantial transformation occurred in Mexico.

MENA relevance: transshipment

🇺🇸 US–Morocco FTA (MEFTA)

US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement — zero-duty access on a broad range of qualifying goods originating in Morocco. Covers industrial goods, consumer products, and some agricultural. Certificate of Origin required. Routiply generates CO for MEFTA-eligible shipments.

Active — MENA direct

🇺🇸 US–Bahrain FTA

US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (in force since 2006). Bahrain-origin goods receive preferential duty treatment. Growing re-export hub for MENA goods entering the US. Certificate of Origin required.

Active — MENA direct

🌍 AGOA — African Growth & Opportunity Act

Duty-free access for eligible Sub-Saharan African countries on ~7,000 product categories. Not MENA-specific but relevant for MENA–Africa trilateral trade — goods of African origin may qualify when re-exported via MENA hubs. V波斯an countries (Mauritania, Egypt) may have partial eligibility.

Sub-Saharan Africa focus

🇺🇸 GSP — Generalized System of Preferences

US GSP program offers duty-free treatment for imports from designated developing countries. Some MENA exporters (Egypt, Morocco) have benefited. Expired/reauthorized periodically — check current status. Requires Certificate of Origin.

Check eligibility status

🇹🇳 No FTA with Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt

Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt do not have a bilateral FTA with the United States. Standard MFN duty rates apply — typically higher than preferential rates. MEFTA (Morocco) and US–Bahrain are the only MENA countries with active US FTA access.

MFN rates apply
Duties & Taxes

MFN rates, Section 301/232 tariffs, and fees

Category Rate / Amount Notes
MFN general duty range 0–35% Most-favored-nation rate per HTS chapter
Section 301 tariffs (China) 7.5–25% Additional tariffs on China-origin goods; check current list for your HTS code
Section 232 tariffs 25% steel / 10% aluminum Steel and aluminum articles; country exclusions may apply
MPF — Merchandise Processing Fee 0.3464% (min $0.01) Ad valorem fee on imported goods; capped at $100 per entry
HMF — Harbor Maintenance Fee 0.125% of cargo value Applies to cargo entering US ports via water; US exports exempt
Federal VAT None No federal VAT on imports — state sales tax does not apply at the border
USMCA preferential 0% on qualifying goods Must meet USMCA rules of origin; CO required
Certifications & Standards

FDA, USDA, FCC, CPSC — sector-specific requirements

🍎

FDA Prior Notice

Food, beverages, cosmetics, dietary supplements

  • Prior Notice of Imported Food: must be submitted and confirmed before food arrives at US port of entry
  • Food facility must be registered with FDA ( biennial renewal)
  • Prior Notice System (PNS) via FDA's dedicated portal
  • Cosmetics: ingredient listing and labeling compliant with FDA requirements
  • Dietary supplements: compliance with DSHEA requirements
🌾

USDA APHIS

Agricultural products, live plants, animal products

  • Import permit: required for live animals, birds, plants, seeds, animal products
  • Phytosanitary Certificate: issued by origin country's agriculture ministry
  • Meat and poultry: USDA FSIS import inspection at port of entry
  • Wood packaging materials: ISPM 15 treatment required
  • aphis.usda.gov/permits — online permit portal
📡

FCC Certification

Electronics, radio equipment, telecom devices

  • FCC marking required: imported electronics must show FCC compliance mark or will be seized by CBP
  • Certification by TCB (Telecommunications Certification Body) or FCC laboratory
  • Radio frequency devices: verification or certification required
  • Telecom equipment: Part 68 registration with TCB
  • fcc.gov/oet — equipment authorization search
⚡

UL / ETL Marks

Product safety certification (not legally mandatory, commercially required)

  • UL mark: Underwriters Laboratories testing — widely required by US retailers and importers
  • ETL mark: Intertek testing — equivalent to UL, accepted by major retailers
  • Not legally required for import but commercially mandatory — products without UL/ETL will be rejected by retailers
  • Testing must be done in US-recognized labs; Chinese labs accepted if IECEE CB scheme used
  • Timeline: 4–12 weeks for testing and certification
🏭

CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission

Consumer goods, children's products, general merchandise

  • CPSIA compliance: children's products require third-party testing and certification
  • General consumer goods: lead and phthalate limits must be met
  • Tracking labels required on children's products
  • CPSC database (SaferProducts.gov) allows recall monitoring
  • cpsc.gov — compliance guides and testing labs
Practical Guide

Required documents, clearance timelines, and common errors

📋 Document Checklist

  • Commercial Invoice — with HTS-10 code, FOB/CIF value, incoterms, shipper and consignee details
  • Packing List — itemised by SKU, with gross/net weight, dimensions, country of origin
  • Bill of Lading / Air Waybill — negotiable; required for cargo release
  • ISF (Importer Security Filing) — required 24h before vessel loading for ocean freight; 10+2 data points
  • Certificate of Origin — for USMCA, MEFTA, GSP, or US–Bahrain preferential rates
  • PGA clearances — FDA Prior Notice, USDA APHIS permit, EPA TSCA filing (if applicable)
  • Fumigation / phytosanitary certificate — wood packaging materials (ISPM 15)
  • Bond — required for formal entries (value > $2,500); single-entry or continuous bond

⏱️ Customs Clearance Timeline

  • Air freight: 1–2 business days for standard goods after document submission and ISF filing
  • Ocean freight: 3–5 business days for standard goods; ISF must be filed 24h before loading
  • FDA Prior Notice: must be acknowledged before food arrives — file 4–8h in advance minimum
  • PGA holds: FDA, USDA, or EPA holds add 3–10 days depending on inspection
  • USMCA preferential clearance: add 1–2 days for origin verification and CO processing
  • Bond approval: if no continuous bond exists, set up single-entry bond before arrival — allow 2 days

⚠️ Common Errors

  • HTS misclassification: using an 8-digit HTS instead of 10-digit subcode triggers a CBP hold and potential penalty assessment
  • Missing ISF: failure to file ISF 24h before vessel loading results in CBP penalties (up to $5,000 per violation)
  • PGA holds (FDA/USDA): food and agricultural goods arriving without prior notice acknowledgment are held or refused
  • Wrong Schedule B on export: using HTS import codes on US export documentation will cause customs issues for your US buyer
  • No bond for formal entry: goods arriving as formal entry without a valid bond will be held and additional fees incurred
  • Section 301 under-declaration: undervaluing China-origin goods to avoid Section 301 tariffs is a serious CBP violation
Duty Deferral

Bonded warehouses and Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs)

US Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) and bonded warehouses allow importers to defer duty payment until goods enter US commerce. In an FTZ, goods are considered outside US customs territory — no duties or MPF/HMF owed while in the zone. Duties are only paid when/if goods are transferred into US commerce. This is particularly valuable for high-duty goods, seasonal inventory, and goods destined for re-export.

MENA exporters shipping into US FTZs can also use the FTZ manufacturing mechanism — components imported duty-free, processed, then entered under preferential USMCA rules if the final product qualifies.

FTZ Key Facts

Duty deferralYes — during zone storage
Inverted tariffAvailable — if final product rate < component rates
MPF / HMFNot owed while in zone
USMCA benefitZone manufacturing can qualify for USMCA
Weekly entryAdministratibe option to weekly entry procedure

Start With Your HS Code —
Get the Right HTS-10 Classification First

The correct 10-digit US HTS code determines your duty rate, PGA requirements, and eligibility for USMCA, MEFTA, or GSP preferential treatment. Routiply classifies against the official USITC HTS database in seconds.

Classify Your Product → US HTS Lookup → See your savings →

Talk to a trade compliance expert

Get a personalised walkthrough of Routiply for your trade lane.