Returned American Products (CBP Shipment Type)
Last updated 28 July 2026
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| This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide |
A Returned American Products shipment, also associated with CBP Form 3311, is a U.S. Shipment Type for products of the United States being returned to the United States. It is used with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and may be reported on an ACE Manifest.
CBP Form 3311 is titled Declaration for Free Entry of Returned American Products and CBP states that the form remains valid for use even though the OMB date shown on the form page is under review.[1] The form is used when a duty-free entry claim is made for goods manufactured in the United States, previously exported, and returned to the United States under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.[1]
This shipment type may be used when U.S.-origin products are being returned under HTSUS 9801.00.10. CBP's regulations require the goods to qualify as domestic products returned to the United States, and the claim may require declarations and supporting documents depending on the shipment value and circumstances.[2][3]
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Qualification
Returned American Products may qualify for free entry when the goods are products of the United States and have not been advanced in value or improved in condition while abroad.[2] For shipments returned by a foreign purchaser, CBP regulations include goods that were rejected or returned to the United States for credit.[2]
The goods must not have been allowed customs drawback, must not have received an exemption from internal revenue tax at export, and must not otherwise be subject to duty.[2] CBP Form 3311 also requires the declarant to state that the articles are the growth, production, or manufacture of the United States and are returned without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process of manufacture or other means.[1]
Because the carrier is not normally in a position to determine whether these conditions are met, the carrier should rely on the importer, owner, consignee, agent, or customs broker to confirm whether Returned American Products is the correct shipment type.
CBP Form 3311 and Supporting Documents
CBP Form 3311 is used for the Declaration for Free Entry of Returned American Products.[1] Under 19 CFR 10.1, CBP Form 3311 or its electronic equivalent may need to be executed in duplicate and supported by entry documentation.[2]
Depending on the value and circumstances, CBP may require declarations from the foreign shipper and importer, evidence of U.S. origin, proof of export, and evidence that the goods were not advanced in value or improved in condition while abroad.[2] CBP Form 3311 notes that if the value of the article is $10,000 or more and the articles are not clearly marked with the name and address of the U.S. manufacturer, documentation or other evidence should be attached to support the duty-free claim as American Goods Returned.[1]
CBP's broader HTSUS 9801 guidance covers both U.S.-origin goods and certain foreign-origin goods returned.[3] This BorderConnect shipment type is specifically for Returned American Products, so do not assume that every HTSUS 9801 claim should use this shipment type.
Declaring a Returned American Products Shipment in ACE Manifest
Returned American Products shipments have historically been treated as exempt from mandatory ACE Manifest filing requirements, but carriers may still submit ACE information for records and processing visibility.[4] To report a Returned American Products shipment in BorderConnect:
- Create an ACE Shipment.
- Select Returned American Products as the shipment type. In some systems this may be described as CBP Form 3311.
- Provide a unique Shipment Control Number, shipper, consignee, and commodity information.
- Attach the shipment to the ACE Manifest and transmit it to CBP.
A Returned American Products shipment is different from a PAPS shipment. The carrier still provides ACE shipment data, but the shipment does not normally use a PAPS broker entry number in BorderConnect. At the border, the driver should be prepared to present the completed CBP Form 3311 and supporting documents requested by CBP.
BorderConnect’s Returned American Products guide notes that these shipments are treated as informal entries and that the carrier will not receive an entry number for the shipment.[4] It also states that the driver must present a completed CBP Form 3311 in duplicate to the officer at the border.[4]
Common Examples
A Returned American Products shipment may apply when U.S.-made goods were shipped to Canada or another foreign country and are now returning to the United States without having been repaired, altered, upgraded, or otherwise improved abroad. Examples may include rejected merchandise, returned customer orders, U.S.-made goods returned for credit, or products returning after being refused by the foreign purchaser.
This shipment type should not be used for goods that were repaired, processed, assembled, or improved outside the United States unless the importer or broker confirms that the goods still qualify under the applicable HTSUS and CBP rules. If the goods include foreign-origin merchandise or goods returned after repair, a different entry type or filing process may be required.
See also
- PAPS
- ACE Manifest Software User Guide
- Shipment Types for ACE and ACI eManifest
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection