ACE F884 fatal: Section 338 exemption HTS needs dutiable Chapter 99 on the line
CSMS #69915227 and correction #69941677 add F884. Why 9903.03.15 alone fails, how it maps to Section 338 line construction, and who to contact at ESAR.
ACE now fatal-rejects a Section 338 exemption HTS when the line lacks an appropriate dutiable Chapter 99 HTS. The error is F884 (EXEMPT HTS NOT ALLOWED FOR SECTION 338). It shipped to CERT and PROD on August 26, 2026.
Use the corrected heading. CSMS #69941677 replaces the earlier 9903.03.05 reference in CSMS #69915227 with 9903.03.15. Filing 9903.03.15 alone as an exemption without the matching dutiable Chapter 99 on the line will trip F884.
F884: exemption HTS 9903.03.15 for Section 338 is not allowed without an appropriate dutiable Chapter 99 HTS on the line.
What CBP published
Exempt HTS (corrected): 9903.03.15
Rule: no appropriate dutiable CH99 HTS on the line → reject
Deployed CERT + PROD: August 26, 2026 · Error Dictionary V53
The updated ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary V53 is posted under Supporting Documents: Documentation for Entry Summary Chapters on CBP.gov. Technical questions go to your Client Representative; ESAR owns the error at esar@cbp.dhs.gov.
How this fits Section 338 filing
Section 338 Canada additional duties use the 9903.03.12–9903.03.16 family (rates and carveouts are covered in our Section 338 Canada duties Library note). 9903.03.15 is the 0% additional-duty exemption heading for the aluminum/steel/copper and related carveouts under U.S. note 51. F884 is the ACE enforcement hook: you cannot park an exemption HTS on a line that never reports the corresponding dutiable Chapter 99 structure CBP expects for Section 338.
Before transmitting, confirm every Section 338 line that uses 9903.03.15 also carries the appropriate dutiable Chapter 99 HTS for that scenario. If your entry-summary software still maps the obsolete 9903.03.05 string from the uncorrected CSMS, replace it. Retain the correction bulletin in your release notes so night-shift filers do not chase the wrong number.
Contacts
Assigned Client Representative for technical transmission questions. Entry Summary Accounts & Revenue Division (ESAR) at esar@cbp.dhs.gov for the dictionary update itself.
- F884 fatal: EXEMPT HTS NOT ALLOWED FOR SECTION 338 when exemption HTS is used without an appropriate dutiable Chapter 99 on the line.
- Correct exemption HTS is 9903.03.15 (CSMS #69941677 corrects earlier 9903.03.05 in #69915227).
- Deployed to CERT and PROD August 26, 2026; Error Dictionary V53 on CBP.gov.
- Cross-check Section 338 Chapter 99 line construction before transmit; contact esar@cbp.dhs.gov / your Client Rep.
- CSMS #69915227 - Update to ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary (V53) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- CSMS #69941677 - CORRECTION: Update to ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary (V53) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Drawback eligibility depends on your specific facts, and final refunds are determined by CBP at liquidation. Consult a licensed customs broker or attorney for your situation.