CBP Opens 2027 Sugar TRQs on Oct 1: Refined, Specialty, and Containing Products

Key Points

• CBP published three quota bulletins on September 24, 2026, covering the 2027 quota year (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) for Refined Sugar, Specialty Sugar, and Sugar-Containing Products.
• The Refined Sugar and Specialty Sugar TRQs open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and both are expected to oversubscribe at the Opening Moment.
• The Sugar-Containing Products TRQ also opens October 1, 2026, with entries accepted beginning at 12:01 a.m. local port time.
• Covered HTS chapters include Chapter 17, 18, 19, and 21 subheadings under Additional U.S. Notes 5 and 8.
• ACE will undergo standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, September 26, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, September 27, 2026, which falls just days before quota opening.

On this page

1. What changed: three 2027 sugar TRQs now active
2. Affected products and HTS coverage
3. Opening dates, times, and oversubscription risk
4. ACE maintenance window before quota opening
5. What importers and brokers should do
6. Key references

CBP has published quota bulletins for all three major sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) programs covering the 2027 quota year, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Two of the three programs are expected to oversubscribe the moment they open, making precise, timely filing essential. The links in this article go to the primary documents: the official CBP quota bulletins themselves. Read the source.

What changed: three 2027 sugar TRQs now active

On September 24, 2026, CBP's Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) announced the publication of three quota bulletins for the upcoming 2027 quota year:

• QB 26-301: 2027 Refined Sugar (CSMS #70014324)
• QB 26-305: 2027 Specialty Sugar (CSMS #70015464)
• QB 26-304: 2027 Sugar-Containing Products (CSMS #70014436)

Each bulletin governs how entries are accepted, processed, and pro-rated if the quota is oversubscribed at opening. Importers and brokers must read the specific bulletin for each commodity before filing.

Affected products and HTS coverage

The three programs cover a broad range of sweetener and confectionery products under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS):

• Refined Sugar: Chapter 17 and 21 subheadings, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 5.
• Specialty Sugar: Chapter 17 and 21 subheadings, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 5.
• Sugar-Containing Products: Chapter 17, 18, 19, and 21 subheadings, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 8.

Importers should confirm the precise 8- or 10-digit HTS subheadings applicable to their specific merchandise against the relevant AUSN before filing an in-quota entry.

Opening dates, times, and oversubscription risk

All three quota periods run from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The opening mechanics differ slightly between programs:

• Refined Sugar and Specialty Sugar: Both open at 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 1, 2026. CBP has explicitly stated that both quotas are expected to oversubscribe at Opening Moment. When a quota oversubscribes at opening, CBP pro-rates all entries filed during the opening period, meaning each entry receives only a proportional share of the remaining quota.
• Sugar-Containing Products: Opens October 1, 2026, with entries accepted beginning at 12:01 a.m. local port time. Review QB 26-304 for the precise filing window and any simultaneous-filing rules.

Because oversubscription at Opening Moment triggers pro-ration, the window for filing does not reward millisecond-early submissions over all others filed in the same opening period. What matters is filing a complete, accurate entry before the opening window closes.

ACE maintenance window before quota opening

CBP announced (CSMS #70011959) that ACE production will undergo standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, September 26, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, September 27, 2026. While this window closes well before the October 1 quota opening, brokers preparing quota entries should complete any ACE system configuration, broker-of-record checks, or importer account verifications before the maintenance window begins on Saturday evening. Do not leave pre-filing steps to the final hours before October 1.

What importers and brokers should do

• Pull the specific quota bulletin for each commodity you intend to import (QB 26-301, QB 26-304, or QB 26-305) and confirm the exact HTS subheadings, AUSN applicability, and any country-specific allocations before October 1.
• For Refined Sugar and Specialty Sugar, prepare entries in advance of the 12:00 p.m. ET October 1 opening and understand the pro-ration process, since oversubscription at Opening Moment is expected.
• Complete all ACE pre-filing preparations before 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 26, 2026, to avoid any disruption from the scheduled maintenance window.
• Monitor CBP's quota bulletins page for any amendments or notices published between now and October 1.

Key references

• CBP QB 26-301: 2027 Refined Sugar Quota Bulletin (CSMS #70014324)
• CBP QB 26-305: 2027 Specialty Sugar Quota Bulletin (CSMS #70015464)
• CBP QB 26-304: 2027 Sugar-Containing Products Quota Bulletin (CSMS #70014436)
• CSMS #70011959: ACE Production Invasive Maintenance, September 26-27, 2026
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (USITC), Chapters 17, 18, 19, and 21
• CBP Quota Bulletins landing page