Example alert
Effective date, source URL, source notes, old/new treatment, and estimated annual impact are included when the official scope is clear enough to summarize.
Open the example HTS page: 4202.92.31.
Related alert workflows
When this alert is useful
This workflow is designed for importers who already know the codes they buy against and need a plain-English signal when official sources mention those codes, countries, or programs. It helps catch changes before a supplier quote, broker instruction, or purchase order turns into a surprise landed-cost increase.
The alert should trigger review, not autopilot. Your team still needs to confirm product facts, country of origin, entry timing, preference eligibility, and any scope language that is more specific than the HTS code alone. The highest-value alert is one that reaches the person who can pause a shipment, update a landed-cost sheet, or ask a broker for the official-source reading before goods move. Keep the saved code list narrow so every email maps to a real product line.
How antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) duties are decided — and who pays them
Antidumping and countervailing duties are case-specific trade remedies, not a standing tariff line. Antidumping duties offset goods sold in the U.S. below fair value (dumping); countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. Two agencies act in parallel: the U.S. Department of Commerce calculates the dumping margin or subsidy rate, while the U.S. International Trade Commission determines whether the U.S. industry is materially injured. An order is issued only when both agencies reach affirmative findings. Each order is identified by a case number — A-### for antidumping and C-### for countervailing, with the three-digit prefix encoding the country (for example, 570 is China). U.S. Customs and Border Protection then collects cash deposits at entry and enforces the orders. The duty is layered on top of the normal Column 1 rate and any Section 301 or 232 overlay, so a single shipment can carry several stacked duties at once.
Why an HTS code alone cannot confirm AD/CVD scope — and what the alert actually does
The HTS numbers listed in an AD/CVD order are provided for CBP's convenience only and are not dispositive; the written narrative scope language in the order controls whether a specific product is covered. Two items under the same 8-digit subheading can have opposite outcomes, and merchandise can be in scope even if its HTS code is not listed in the order. The United States also runs a retrospective duty system: the rate paid at entry is only a cash deposit, and the final liability is set later in a Commerce administrative review. If the reviewed rate is higher, the importer of record is billed the difference plus interest — often months or years after the goods clear — and once merchandise is released, AD/CVD is generally not refundable except through that review. Because exposure can attach after the sale and scope turns on narrative text rather than the code, a saved-code alert is a review trigger that points you to the controlling Commerce, ITC, and CBP records; confirming coverage still requires reading the scope language, and a formal Commerce scope ruling is the authoritative way to settle a close call.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between antidumping and countervailing duties?
Both are remedies against unfairly priced imports, but they target different conduct. Antidumping (AD) duties offset foreign producers selling merchandise in the U.S. below normal value or fair value. Countervailing (CVD) duties offset subsidies a foreign government provides to its exporters. The U.S. Department of Commerce sets the AD margin or CVD subsidy rate, the U.S. International Trade Commission decides whether the U.S. industry is materially injured, and an order issues only if both findings are affirmative. A single product from a single country can be subject to both an AD and a CVD order at the same time.
Does my HTS code mean my product is subject to AD/CVD duties?
Not by itself. The HTS numbers cited in an AD/CVD order are included for CBP's administrative convenience and are explicitly not dispositive — the written narrative scope description in the order is what controls. Your product can be in scope even if its exact HTS code is not listed, and a product sharing an HTS code with covered goods can still be out of scope. Read the scope language for the specific order and country, and request a Commerce scope ruling when coverage is genuinely unclear.
How much are AD/CVD duties and when is the final amount set?
Rates are case- and company-specific and can range from a few percent to well over 100% ad valorem, depending on the dumping margin or subsidy rate Commerce calculates for each exporter (with a separate all-others rate). The U.S. uses a retrospective system, so the amount collected at entry is only a cash deposit. The final liability is determined later in a Commerce administrative review of that order; if the reviewed rate is higher, the importer of record is billed the difference plus interest, and once goods are released the deposit is generally not refundable except through a review that lowers the rate.
How do I check whether my product is covered by an AD/CVD order?
Start with Commerce's ACCESS system and the AD/CVD order list to find any active order for your product and country of origin, then read the order's scope language rather than relying on the HTS code. Cross-check the ITC injury determination and the CBP AD/CVD resources for the current cash-deposit instructions and case status. For a close call, file a scope-ruling request with Commerce — that is the authoritative way to confirm coverage. A saved-code alert from Tariff Sentinel flags when these official sources mention your watched product area, but the controlling reading still belongs to the order text and your customs broker.
Sources verified for this alert
- CBP: Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) FAQ (retrieved Jun 7, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Commerce: U.S. Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (retrieved Jun 7, 2026)
- Commerce ACCESS — AD/CVD case records and scope filings (retrieved Jun 7, 2026)
- USITC: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Handbook (injury determinations) (retrieved Jun 7, 2026)
Last verified: Jun 22, 2026. The rates, program scope, agency processes, and effective-date rules above were checked against the cited official sources on that date. Always confirm the controlling text in the official source for your specific code and entry date before filing or sourcing decisions.