July 28 customs cliff locks in new import costs

The July 28 customs-entry cutoff has ended the in-transit exemption for qualifying ocean cargo under new US Section 301 forced-labour duties.
Apparel and textile importers missing the deadline now face 10 or 12.5 per cent added duty on affected shipments already at sea.
Sourcing teams must revisit landed costs, supplier mix and purchase orders as USMCA and CAFTA-DR routes gain pricing advantage.