CBP releases draft ACE CATAIR AD/CVD case query guidance
The US CBP has published draft guidance on the ACE CATAIR AD/CVD Case Information Query system, detailing record layouts and technical specifications for ABI filers to electronically query antidumping and countervailing duty case information. The document provides message formats and processing requirements for accessing CBP's automated AD/CVD case-management system.
Photo: Impact Dog Crates / PexelsCBP publishes draft ACE CATAIR guidance for AD/CVD queries
On 14 May 2026, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published draft guidance on the ACE CATAIR AD/CVD Case Information Query system. According to CBP Publication Number 0875-0419, this chapter "provides record layouts and processing information for ABI filers to query the ACE Antidumping/Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) Case Management system for detailed information concerning AD/CVD cases."
The guidance is intended to support Automated Broker Interface (ABI) filers and other trade professionals who need to access structured data about pending or active antidumping and countervailing duty investigations and orders. CBP states that the document "provides the message formats and technical specifications necessary to electronically transmit data to CBP's automated systems."
This draft release allows stakeholders—including customs brokers, freight forwarders, importers, and their compliance teams—to review the proposed technical requirements before final implementation. The document covers the electronic data interchange (EDI) specifications needed to query case information, enabling more efficient compliance workflows for parties subject to or tracking AD/CVD orders.
ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) is CBP's modernized trade platform, and the CATAIR module (Centralized AD/CVD Tariff Information and Refund) manages antidumping and countervailing duty case data. This draft guidance ensures that system users can reliably retrieve case details—such as order status, applicable rates, and case scope—through machine-readable queries rather than manual lookups.
What this means for shippers
If you import goods subject to antidumping or countervailing duties, download and review this draft guidance now to understand how your broker or compliance team will query case information in ACE. Once finalized, this guidance becomes mandatory for ABI transmission; non-compliance can delay clearance. Forward any comments to CBP during the draft period—implementation timelines and final record layouts may shift based on stakeholder feedback. Check /hs-codes/search to confirm whether your product codes fall under any active AD/CVD orders.
