WASHINGTON (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds is asking residents and businesses in the Northern Marianas to contact her office if they have been charged new tariffs on packages sent to the United States following the implementation of Executive Order 14324 suspending the de minimis exemption.
“I have been hearing from many individuals in the Commonwealth questioning the tariffs being applied to their shipments, especially on shipments that serve critical public safety functions and even on items clearly produced in the CNMI. In several cases, it’s clear the charges were made because of a misunderstanding about how the CNMI fits within the United States. This is not right, nor is it in compliance with the Covenant or the law.
“I am confident that the President did not intend to have this Executive Order make life harder for families or businesses in the Marianas. But in an effort to correct its implementation, I have raised a number of serious issues with the Department of Homeland Security, and we are now asking the community to help us document how these new requirements are affecting them. In particular, I want to hear from anyone who has been charged a tariff while returning items purchased in the United States, sending goods made in the United States or in the CNMI, or mailing items that are critical for public safety such as laboratory tests or medical materials.
“I have raised with DHS and the White House the practical and legal infeasibility of this process, and the reasons are many.
“• The CNMI has no effective International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff rate, so any effort to fit the Commonwealth into this system has no legal foundation.
“• Goods that have already entered the United States and are only being returned should not face new duties.
“• Any customs revenue collected from CNMI shipments must, under the Covenant, be returned to the CNMI government, however, the system for tracking such payments appears not to be in place.
“• Products made in the CNMI are U.S. goods and treating them as foreign for tariff purposes not only undermines the Covenant but also disregards decades of established trade practice and the intent of Congress in defining the CNMI’s political and economic status.
“I also stressed that before CBP moves forward with enforcing tariffs on foreign-made goods shipped from the CNMI, it must first establish a clear and reliable process to verify which items have already been subject to U.S. taxes or duties. Without such a process, residents and businesses in the Marianas face the real risk of being charged twice for the same product.
“We are waiting for formal clarification and a change to the process. The more information we can gather from the community, the stronger our case will be to ensure that the law is implemented fairly and consistent with the Covenant.”
Residents who have recently mailed or received packages are encouraged to email the congressional district office with details including the date the item was sent, the type of item, any tariff or duty charged, and the mailing location and destination. Photos or copies of receipts may also be helpful. Information may be emailed to king-hinds@mail.house.gov/.
“I will continue to press for answers until we are satisfied that the people of the CNMI are treated fairly under U.S. law. Reliable and affordable mail service is essential for our community, and we will not allow the Marianas to be overlooked in the implementation of federal policy,” King-Hinds said.
