Government Shutdown & AGOA Update – What You Need to Know
Paying Customs Bills
We’re sharing key updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following their recent government shutdown briefing. These developments may have an impact on import/export operations, so please review the summary below.
Be advised that this is coming from Customs, so there is limited information on the Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) at this time:
CBP Operations During Shutdown
Staffing: CBP employees are classified as “excepted,” meaning no workforce reductions at this time.
Core Functions: Entry processing, refunds, petitions, inspections, liquidations, etc. all remain active.
Website: CBP.gov is no longer being updated during the shutdown. Expect outdated content and red warning banners. However, CSMS messages will continue to be issued.
Refunds: CBP is still processing refunds, but disbursements may be delayed due to Department of the Treasury funding limitations.
Partner Government Agencies (PGAs)
General Guidance: Contingency protocols are in place for each agency. CBP recommends contacting local PGA representatives first, followed by CBP port officials if needed.
TTB: Currently non-operational. COLA waivers for imported samples cannot be obtained, and CBP is looking into providing alternative procedures.
USDA: Agriculture (AG) inspectors remain active. Other USDA personnel may be impacted.
NOAA: Officers are still required for the admissibility of Mexican-origin goods.
FDA & Others: Each PGA is issuing its own guidance. CBP will assist if any PGA becomes unavailable.
Support & Systems
ABI representatives and National Account Managers are still available.
On-site validations (e.g., TSA) continue.
Official CBP travel is limited, but port officers and inspectors are still operating locally.
Entry & Fee Updates
User Fees: Customs user fees officially increased on October 1.
Section 232 Pharma Tariffs: Implementation is expected to proceed on October 14, even if the shutdown continues. HTS updates from the ITC are still pending. (More on this to come.)
AGOA Status (African Growth and Opportunity Act)
AGOA authorization officially expired on September 30, 2025, with no formal extension legislation enacted to date.
While there are reports of a possible one-year extension, no formal legislation has been enacted. CBP has not received confirmation, and Congressional approval is still required.
Entry Filing Guidance for Quota/Visa (Type 02 entry):
If immediate clearance is needed, file a Type 01 entry.
Warning: Filing as a Type 01 entry means you will not be eligible for a refund via Post Summary Correction (PSC) if AGOA is reinstated later. (The only eligible entry type changes via PSC are 01 to 03 and 03 to 01.)
For more information, CBP can be reached at: tradeevents@cbp.dhs.gov
For assistance and additional questions, please reach out to Janel Group's Compliance Team or a Janel Group Representative.
Director of Trade Compliance
Senior Compliance Analyst