Section 301 Tracker is an AI worker that autonomously monitors USTR dockets and Federal Register for China tariff changes.
It performs semantic exclusion matching against product specs, identifies retroactive refund opportunities, and prepares PSC packages-defending against the $21.5B/month tariff environment.
What is Section 301 Tracker?
- China Tariff Watchdog. US customs receipts tripled to $21.5B/month in 2025. Continuously scans Federal Register, USTR notices, and CBP bulletins to detect exclusion reinstatements and tranche implementations. Maps regulatory shifts directly to your SKU catalog with real-time landed cost impact.
- Semantic Exclusion Matching. Exclusions granted by product descriptions (dimensions, compositions, end-uses), not just HTS codes. Uses NLP to match legal text against your technical product specs. Identifies "Product Specific Exclusions" that generic HTS matching misses-avoiding punitive 25% duties.
- Retroactive Refund Engine. Exclusions often granted retroactively. Autonomously audits historical entry data against new rulings to identify recoverable duties. Prepares Post Summary Correction (PSC) packages to reclaim cash from previously paid duties.
- Temporal Management. Tracks exclusion expiration dates. Alerts procurement months in advance to pivot sourcing or petition for extensions. Defense Memos link product specs to Federal Register notices for audit-ready compliance.
Replaces:
- Daily Federal Register reading for tariff changes.
- Excel exclusion tracking for expiration dates and applicability.
- Forensic PSC audits for retrospective refund opportunities.
- Static HTS lookups with dynamic description-based matching.
- Lagging ERP landed cost updates after policy announcements.
Ready to see Section 301 Tracker in action?
Why Section 301 Tracker?
- Mitigate Asymmetric Risk. Tariffs range 7.5%-25% with potential 60%+ spikes. Models proposed tranche impacts for "what-if" scenarios. Enables proactive re-sourcing before policy shocks hit balance sheet.
- Recover Cash via Retroactive Exclusions. Limited refund filing windows when USTR grants retroactive exclusions. Continuously flags past entries eligible for refunds-turning compliance into revenue generator.
- Master Product-Specific Rules. "Electric motors not exceeding 20W" excluded-human brokers miss these granular definitions. Parses technical datasheets for "Semantic Precision" ensuring lowest legal duty rate.
- Ensure Audit Readiness. Generates Defense Memos linking product specifications to Federal Register exclusion IDs. Establishes defensible audit trail reducing negligence/fraud penalty risk.
How It Works
Workflow Automation
How Section 301 Tracker integrates with your systems
Scrapes USTR notices on schedule, uses AI to parse exclusion lists, matches them to product codes in the database, calculates potential savings, and alerts the trade team.
- Regulatory Ingestion. Ingests USTR, Federal Register, and CSMS feeds. Connects to ERP/PLM for BOM and product attributes. Maps internal ontology to tariff schedule legal ontology.
- Semantic Matching. Compares product descriptions against active and proposed exclusion lists. Evaluates physical characteristics (dimensions, power output, material). Assigns "Match Confidence Scores."
- Impact Analysis. Calculates financial impact across inventory when exclusions expire or new tranches imposed. Sends prioritized alerts with affected SKUs, cost projections, and effective dates.
- Filing Preparation. Aggregates entry numbers, invoices, and eligibility proof into PSC packages. Integrates with broker software for streamlined claim submission.
Get Started
Deploy Section 301 Tracker to defend against $21.5B/month tariff environment, recover retroactive refunds, and navigate geopolitical complexity with algorithmic precision.
See how Section 301 Tracker works for your business
Core Capabilities
Real-Time USTR Monitoring
Scans Federal Register and USTR dockets daily to detect tariff changes and exclusion opportunities before they impact landed cost.
Semantic Exclusion Matching
Uses NLP to match technical product descriptions against granular 'product specific' exclusion definitions, uncovering savings missed by standard HTS lookups.
Retroactive Refund Identification
Audits historical customs entries against new retroactive rulings to identify and prepare claims for duty drawbacks and refunds.
Landed Cost Simulation
Models the financial impact of proposed tariff tranches on the Bill of Materials to enable proactive sourcing pivots.
Who It's For
Electronics Importers
Deploy the tracker to monitor volatile List 3 and List 4a tariffs on components. The agent identifies specific exclusions for printed circuit assemblies, protecting margins in a sector with high exposure to China trade policy.
Automotive Suppliers
Use the agent to navigate the intersection of Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs. It tracks exclusions for specific steel and aluminum auto parts, ensuring accurate duty calculation for complex supply chains.
Retail Brands
Implement the worker to manage tariff risks for apparel and consumer goods. The agent forecasts the cost impact of potential new levies, allowing buyers to adjust pricing strategies or supplier allocations in advance.
Value Outcomes
Duty Recovery
Millions in recovered duties
Reclaim overpaid taxes through automated historical audits. Identifying retroactive exclusions converts sunk costs into immediate cash flow.
Risk Mitigation
100% policy visibility
Avoid unbudgeted liability from sudden policy shifts. Real-time alerts on tariff expiration allow for preemptive supply chain adjustments.
Process Efficiency
90% reduction in research
Slash research time. Automating the monitoring of the Federal Register reduces the manual labor of compliance teams by over **90%**.
Margin Protection
Optimized landed cost
Stabilize landed costs. Accurate exclusion application ensures products are imported at the lowest legal duty rate, preserving net profit.
Strategic Value for Decision Makers
For the CFO
**Cash Flow & Liability Control.** Tariffs are a massive variable cost. The Section 301 Tracker not only prevents unbudgeted duty spikes but actively recovers cash through retroactive refund identification, turning compliance into a source of liquidity.
For the COO
**Supply Chain Resilience.** We cannot react to tariffs after they are billed. This agent gives us the foresight to pivot sourcing before penalties hit, ensuring our supply chain remains cost-competitive despite geopolitical volatility.
For the Owner
**Asset Protection.** In a trade war, knowledge is survival. This AI worker ensures we are never blindsided by a policy change, protecting the company's bottom line and ensuring we pay only what is legally required.
Why Export Arena
Section 301 Tracker is not a standalone tool - it's part of Export Arena's AI & Automation Department as a Service. Pre-trained on global trade nuances, from HS codes to geopolitical risk, it delivers strategic insights tailored to C-suite decision-making. We provide resilience as a service.
See how Section 301 Tracker works for your business
