The new quota period (Q3) begins December 26, 2025.
Importers may begin applying up to 15 days in advance of the shipment entry date, which means applications can start as early as December 11.
Please note: Applications submitted too early will be blocked by the system, so it is essential to follow the 15-day window prior to shipment arrival.
Key Points to Remember:
All steel TRQ permit applications are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to quota availability.
The NEICS system automatically checks:
Requested quantity against remaining TRQ allocation for the applicable steel category and country.
Entry date to ensure it falls within the correct quota period.
If quota is available, the application is processed automatically.
If quota is not available:
The application is routed to a permit officer and placed in a queue until additional quantity becomes available.
The importer will be notified when they are next in line and asked to confirm whether they are still interested in importing the shipment, as well as the quantity they wish to import, based on what is available. For example, if the original request was for 1,500 kg but only 1,000 kg is available, the importer will have the option to proceed with the available quantity or reapply for the remaining amount.
Important: Brokers should select “Submit” and not “Submit Auto-Route.” Choosing “Submit Auto-Route” automatically routes the application to a permit officer for review, preventing it from being processed automatically.