Effective July 30, imports of insulated copper wire and cable under HTSUS 8544.42.10, .42.20, .42.90, and .49.10 must now declare:

• Primary country of smelt (required)

• Country of cast (required)

• Secondary country of smelt (optional)

Issued under Proclamation 11021, this covers copper conductors rated ≤1000V fitted with connectors — telecom cables, modular telephone wiring, and similar products — from ALL countries of origin except the U.S.

Can’t trace your supply chain back to the smelter? CBP allows you to report “OTH” (other). But here’s the catch: CBP explicitly warns that consistent use of “OTH” may trigger inquiries and documentation requests. New ACE error codes 869–873 will block any filing with missing or invalid smelt/cast data.

What procurement teams should do right now:

1. Map your copper supply chain — from smelter to caster to finished-goods manufacturer

1. Update supplier questionnaires to capture smelt and cast country information

1. Brief your customs broker on the new Importer’s Additional Declaration Type Code 12

This isn’t just about Section 232 copper duties (already in force since April 2026 [?]). It’s about proving — with documentation — exactly where your copper comes from. The era of “origin unknown” as a safe default is closing fast.

Comment ‘guide’ if your supply chain involves copper wire or cable products.

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