A technical glitch in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection system, which delayed updated tariff rates for select shipments from China and other regions, has been resolved after disrupting trade operations for over 10 hours. The issue affected cargo exempt from recent tariff adjustments announced by the Trump administration, including shipments already in transit from the Chinese mainland and countries granted temporary tariff relief.
The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the primary system for processing import and export declarations, failed to implement revised duty rates tied to a 90-day tariff pause enacted on April 9. U.S. Customs confirmed the system has since been updated, ensuring compliance with current trade policies.
The temporary error highlights the critical role of digital infrastructure in global supply chains, particularly for businesses reliant on timely cross-border transactions. Analysts note the incident underscores the importance of resilient trade systems amid evolving economic policies.
