ACE CATAIR Updates: Section 232 Auto Parts Validation & New F875 Error

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued two ACE CATAIR Error Dictionary updates in quick succession this week. Both affect entry summary filers and carry immediate operational consequences: one tied directly to Section 232 duty offsets on automobile and vehicle parts, and the other flagging a new hard stop for importers who have gone dormant.

New ACE Validation for Section 232 Auto and Medium/Heavy-Duty Vehicle Parts Offsets

Effective July 18, 2026, CBP deployed a new validation in ACE governing import adjustment offsets for Section 232 duties on automobile and medium and heavy-duty vehicle parts. The change is documented in CSMS #69271650, which also announced the release of ACE CATAIR Error Dictionary V51.

What this means in practice: entries claiming an import adjustment offset against Section 232 duties for covered auto parts will now be subject to automated ACE validation. Transmissions that fail the new validation checks will be rejected or flagged before they clear. Brokers and filers who have not reviewed the V51 Error Dictionary should do so before submitting affected entries, as errors that previously passed may now generate hard rejects.

New Error Code F875: Importer Inactive for Entry Purposes

A separate update (ACE CATAIR Error Dictionary V50, announced in CSMS #69268077) introduces a new fatal error code:

F875: IMPORTER INACTIVE FOR ENTRY PURPOSES. The importer of record number is ineligible to transmit an Entry Summary due to having exceeded the allowable time period since the last successfully submitted entry summary.

This is a fatal error, meaning the entry summary will not process. The trigger is straightforward: if an importer of record has not filed a successful entry summary within CBP's allowable inactivity window, their IOR number is flagged as inactive and subsequent filings will be blocked.

This has real-world implications for importers who file infrequently, recently changed IOR numbers, or are resuming operations after a gap. Customs brokers who file on behalf of multiple clients, including smaller or seasonal importers, should proactively verify IOR status before transmitting entry summaries to avoid costly delays.

What importers and brokers should do

• Download and review ACE CATAIR Error Dictionary V51 from the Supporting Documents section on CBP.gov to understand the new Section 232 auto parts offset validation rules before filing affected entries.
• For any client that has not filed a successful entry summary recently, verify that their importer of record number is still active in ACE to avoid an F875 fatal rejection.
• Update internal filing checklists and broker management systems to flag IOR inactivity as a pre-submission check, especially for infrequent or returning importers.
• If an IOR is found to be inactive, contact CBP promptly to determine the reactivation process before attempting to transmit an entry summary.