Law360, New York ( August 8, 2016, 12:52 PM EDT) -- The Obama administration is currently seeking informal input from and consulting with importers regarding a recent proposal to change the structure and amount of the merchandise processing fee (MPF) to bring it into compliance with the terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The MPF is the main customs user fee assessed on imports of goods into the United States, although it is subject to a number of exemptions.[1] Under the administration's proposal, some importers will pay more and others will pay less, depending on the value of their entries (i.e., shipments). If goods qualify under both an MPF-exempt free trade agreement (FTA) and the TPP, an importer would have to choose whether to either enter them under the FTA (as MPF-exempt) or under the TPP (in which case MPF would apply). Importers should carefully assess the implications of the proposal....