Copper smelt and cast reporting: ACE fatal F794 as of September 14, 2026
Missing Additional Declaration Type Code 12 for copper is now a fatal F794. Which HTSUS lines need primary smelt and cast, when OTH is allowed, and which CSMS to keep on the desk.
Effective Monday, September 14, 2026, ACE rejects entry summaries that omit copper primary country of smelt and country of cast. The fatal message is F794 ADDTNL DEC TYPE RQRD FOR ARTICLE when the required 54 record type 12 for copper is missing.
This is not a new substantive requirement. CSMS #69252300 already defined the copper smelt and cast reporting rules for ACE production starting July 30, 2026. CSMS #69711865 flips the missing Additional Declaration Type Code 12 case to fatal. Soft misses now stop the summary.
As of September 14, 2026, missing copper primary smelt and cast country detail is a fatal F794.
Which HTSUS lines require the declaration
Imports of certain copper articles from all countries of origin (except the U.S.) must report the primary country of smelt and the country of cast, and may report the secondary country of smelt, on the entry summary line for:
- 8544.42.10
- 8544.42.20
- 8544.42.90
- 8544.49.10
If the primary country of smelt, secondary country of smelt, and/or country of cast are not known, importers may report OTH (other). That is an explicit allowance in both CSMS messages. It is not a license to skip the record.
CSMS #69711865 (fatal update) · CSMS #69252300 (full requirements)
HTSUS: 8544.42.10 / 20 / 90 · 8544.49.10
Additional Declaration Type Code 12 (Copper Smelt and Cast Country Detail)
Why this exists: Proclamation 11021
CSMS #69252300 ties the requirement to Proclamation 11021 (April 2, 2026), Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper into the United States, under Section 232 (19 U.S.C. § 1862). The proclamation requires importers to provide information identifying the countries where copper used in covered copper article imports is smelted, and the countries where those copper article imports are cast. See also 91 FR 18201 and CSMS #68253075.
ACE acceptance of the smelt and cast fields deployed to CERT on July 16, 2026 and to production on July 30, 2026. Technical reporting sits in the ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Create/Update instructions for Importer's Additional Declaration Type Code 12 (Copper Smelt and Cast Country Detail).
Related ACE error dictionary codes
CSMS #69252300 lists these CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary codes for copper smelt and cast:
- 869 COP PRIM SMELT CNTRY CD MISSING
- 870 COP PRIM SMELT CNTRY CD UNKNOWN CNTRY
- 871 COP SEC SMELT CNTRY CD UNKNOWN CNTRY
- 872 COP RECENT CAST CNTRY CD MISSING
- 873 COP RECENT SMELT CNTRY CD UNKNOWN CNTRY
Confirm the Chapter 1–97 line is one of 8544.42.10/20/90 or 8544.49.10. Confirm country of origin is not the U.S. Transmit Additional Declaration Type Code 12 with primary smelt and cast (secondary smelt optional). Use OTH only when genuinely unknown. Treat F794 as blocking, not advisory.
Who to call
Technical questions on the ACE update go to your assigned Client Representative. Broader questions go to Entry Summary Accounts & Revenue (ESAR) at esar@cbp.dhs.gov. Section 232 trade-remedy questions go to traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov.
If you also claim Section 232 copper duties into drawback, keep the smelt/cast declaration clean on the import side first. A fatal F794 means there is no accepted entry summary line to build the claim from.
- Effective Sep. 14, 2026, ACE fatal-rejects summaries missing copper primary smelt and cast country detail (F794).
- Covered HTSUS: 8544.42.10, 8544.42.20, 8544.42.90, 8544.49.10 from all origins except the U.S.
- Report primary country of smelt and country of cast; secondary smelt optional; OTH allowed when unknown.
- Transmit via Additional Declaration Type Code 12 (Copper Smelt and Cast Country Detail).
- Full requirements: CSMS #69252300; fatal update: CSMS #69711865.
- Contacts: esar@cbp.dhs.gov; traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov for Section 232 remedy questions.
- CSMS #69711865 - Copper Additional Smelt and Cast Country Detail Error Code Update · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- CSMS #69252300 - GUIDANCE: Section 232 Copper Smelt and Cast Reporting Requirements · 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.