COVID-19 Cargo Resolution Team (CCRT)

In an effort to coordinate inquiries regarding the import of medical supplies and personal protective equipment, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Pharmaceuticals, Health and Chemical Center of Excellence and Expertise has established the COVID-19 Cargo Resolution Team (CCRT).  This team is a multidisciplinary team to triage incoming inquires, coordinate with affected ports, and respond directly as appropriate.  

CCRT can be contacted at COVID19_RELIEF_IMPORTS@cbp.dhs.gov.  

This email address will be used as CBP’s coordinating mechanism for receiving and responding to inquiries concerning the items below items.  Assigned staff will also coordinate with the ports and other government agencies to ensure that legitimate shipments are not unnecessarily delayed.

Types of inquires that should be sent to the mailbox are:

• Facilitation requests from other government agencies and private industry
• General inquiries regarding the import of medical instruments

To assist CBP in expediting the release of COVID-19 relief materials, please include as much data about the shipment as possible.  Ideally, this will include the following:

• Shipment information:  manifest or air waybill numbers, tracking numbers, entry numbers, mode of transport information
• Conveyance information:  carrier name, mode of transportation, flight number, vessel/voyage number, port of arrival, port of entry
• Cargo description:  complete description of the goods being shipped
• Country information:  country of manufacture, country of export
• Parties involved: names and locations of manufacturers, shippers, importers, and consignees

Also of potential use to importers is the recent World Customs Organization (WCO) release of Guidance on HS Classification for COVID-19 Medical Supplies.