CBP U.S. Customs Announces 2026 Quota Openings for Tobacco and Sugars

Trade Update • Aug. 27

Key Points

• Tobacco quotas for fiscal year 2026 run from September 13, 2025 – September 12, 2026, opening on September 15, 2025.

• Sugar quotas, including raw cane, refined, specialty, and sugar-containing products, open on October 1, 2025.

• Entry summaries for all quotas can be submitted starting at midnight local port time on each product’s opening date.

• Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQE) are required for raw cane sugar and Canadian sugar-containing products.

T

he U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued quota bulletins detailing the opening dates and procedures for tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on tobacco, raw cane sugar, refined sugar, specialty sugar, and sugar-containing products for fiscal year 2026. These quota openings are critical for importers involved in these key agricultural commodity sectors to ensure compliance and timely entry of goods.

Importers must submit quota entry summaries promptly during specified opening windows via Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), with required documentation such as CQE and country-of-origin certificates.

Quote Details by Products

Additional Submission Details & Notes

Tobacco

• Certificate of origin is required for tobacco from specific countries, like Argentina; tobacco from Canada, Israel, and Mexico is exempt from the quota.
• Importers must comply with country-specific restraint levels as outlined in the quota bulletin.

Raw Cane Sugar

• Original CQE number must be electronically submitted in ACE; originals may be requested via Document Imaging System (DIS).
• Certain HTS classifications require sampling according to Customs Directive 3820-001B.
• Warehouse entry summaries related to withdrawals should not be finalized prematurely; use collection code 002 for initial collections, with zero-dollar collection code 092 applied after warehouse ledger closeout by CBP.
• Non-ABI entries must be updated in ACE before collection processing.

Refined Sugar

• Early or late entry summaries (outside the October 1, 12:00 AM local port time to 12:00 PM ET window) will not be processed but may be retransmitted.
• Oversubscription is expected; monitor ACE notifications carefully.
• Report transmission problems promptly to the ACE Client Representative and HQ Quota Branch to avoid exclusion.

Specialty Sugar

• Entry timing is governed by local port time for remote filers.
• Prorata percentages calculated 72 hours post opening

Sugar-Containing Products

• For Canadian-origin entries, the 8-digit Canadian Export Certificate must be entered on CBP Form 7501 in box 33 (Type code 16).
• No certificate is required for World Trade Organization (WTO) countries.

Important Actions for Importers

• Submit entries promptly within the official quota opening windows to secure quota benefits.
• Ensure proper certificates (CQE or origin) accompany filings to avoid rejection.
• Monitor ACE communications closely for prorations or filing issues.
• Respond quickly to prorated allocation notices by refiling within deadlines.

For any questions or issues regarding quota submissions, importers should contact the Headquarters Quota and Agriculture Branch at HQQUOTA@cbp.dhs.gov or reach out to their ACE Client Representative for timely assistance.

How GHY Can Help?

GHY specializes in helping businesses navigate and reduce the impacts of tariffs through strategic solutions tailored to their needs. Our experts can audit your supply chain to identify inefficiencies, uncover cost-saving opportunities, and ensure compliance with evolving trade regulations. We also employ tariff engineering techniques to optimize product classification and sourcing strategies, minimizing duty exposure and maximizing profitability.

By partnering with GHY, your business gains access to the tools and expertise needed to streamline operations and stay competitive in a challenging trade environment.

Contact Us Today! Booking a Meeting, email consult@ghy.com, or call +1 (800) 667-0771.