USMCA & CAFTA-DR for Florida Importers: Duty-Free Basics in 2026

Two trade agreements save Florida importers more duty money than any other: USMCA, covering Mexico and Canada, and CAFTA-DR, covering Central America and the Dominican Republic. Qualify your goods correctly and the duty rate is usually zero; claim carelessly and you invite a CBP verification with penalties and back duties. Here are the practical basics for 2026.

What each agreement covers

USMCA (the successor to NAFTA) grants duty-free treatment to originating goods traded among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. CAFTA-DR does the same for the U.S., Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic — a lane that dominates apparel, agricultural, and light-manufactured imports arriving at South Florida ports.

“Originating” is the whole game

Free-trade rates apply only to goods that originate in a member country under the agreement’s rules of origin. Wholly grown or produced goods qualify easily; manufactured goods must satisfy a product-specific rule — usually a tariff-shift test (imported inputs change HTS classification during production) and sometimes a regional value content threshold. Transshipping Chinese goods through a member country does not make them originating, and CBP audits precisely for that.

How to claim preference

Under both agreements the importer claims preference at entry, backed by a certification of origin — under USMCA this can come from the exporter, producer, or importer and requires nine minimum data elements; CAFTA-DR is similarly flexible. Keep the certification and supporting production records for five years. If you missed a claim at entry, both agreements allow post-importation refund claims, typically within one year — a cousin of the recovery process in our duty drawback guide.

Verification risk in 2026

With tariff pressure elevated across other lanes (see our 2026 customs brokerage outlook), CBP has stepped up FTA verifications. Common failures: certifications signed by parties without knowledge of production, missing HTS-level rules analysis, and no records from the actual producer. Treat every claim as if a CBP Form 28 Request for Information will arrive — because increasingly, it does.

Where your freight partner fits

A broker-integrated logistics provider connects the paperwork to the physical move: coordinated U.S. customs clearance, bonded storage while claims are perfected, and distribution across Florida once released. That integration is what keeps duty-free freight actually moving duty-free.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a certificate of origin form for USMCA?

No specific form is required — a certification containing the nine required data elements can appear on an invoice or a separate document, completed by the exporter, producer, or importer.

Can I get duties refunded on past CAFTA-DR shipments?

Yes. Both CAFTA-DR and USMCA allow post-importation preference claims, generally within one year of importation, refunding duties paid on qualifying goods.

What happens if CBP rejects my FTA claim?

You owe the ordinary duty rate plus interest, and negligent or unsupported claims can draw penalties. Good-faith claims with organized production records usually resolve at repayment only.

Importing from Mexico, Central America, or the DR? Go Freight coordinates clearance, bonded storage, and Florida distribution. Request a quote or call (786) 445-0150.