ITC Posts 2015 Tariff Schedule; Changes Take Effect Jan. 1
The International Trade Commission posted the 2015 edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements changes made by several presidential proclamations to the eligibility for preferential trade programs of Russia, Madagascar, Swaziland, Guinea, Guinea-Bisseau, and South Sudan. It also adds new statistical suffixes to several tariff subheadings for products that include plastic gift wrapping materials, diamond sawblade parts, and extension cords. Most of the changes take effect Jan. 1.
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(Note: This report only includes changes made since the last revision to the online HTS (HTS 2014 Rev. 1) went into effect on July 1, 2014 (see 14070302). For a full list of changes since the last paper edition of the HTS was published on Jan. 1, 2014, see the change record (here).)
Russia removed from GSP. The 2015 HTS includes changes to implement the removal of Russia from the Generalized System of Preferences under a presidential proclamation that took effect Oct. 3 (see 14100613), deleting Russia from the list of GSP beneficiary countries under General Note 4(a). With the termination of Russia’s beneficiary status, GSP-ineligible country-product pairs for Russia are being removed from General Note 4(d), and the GSP SPI in the “Special” rate of duty column is accordingly being changed from “A*” to “A” for subheadings 4412.39.30, 7202.49.50, 7407.29.34, 7604.10.50, 8104.11.00, 8108.90.60 and 8112.92.60.
AGOA changes. In order to implement changes to African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility announced in presidential proclamations issued in July and December (see 14062706 and 1412230060), the list of AGOA beneficiary countries under General Note 16(a) is being amended to add Madagascar and Guinea Bissau, and remove The Gambia and South Sudan. Notes to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 are amended accordingly, and several other notes to subchapter XIX are amended to reflect the granting of textile and apparel benefits to Guinea and Madagascar by the U.S. Trade Representative in December (see 1412120017).
Israel agriculture agreement. The 2015 HTS again extends a 2004 agreement on trade in agricultural products between the U.S. and Israel. The deal initially expired in 2008, but was extended for one year increments each year since. Proclamation 9223 again extended the expiration date of subchapter VIII of chapter 99 of the HTS until Dec. 31, 2015 (see 1412230060). The changes to subchapter VIII of chapter 99 take effect Jan. 1.
Bahrain textile and apparel TRQ. A tariff-rate quota allowing duty-free entry under subheading 9914.99.20 of certain textile and apparel products from Bahrain under a free trade agreement is being extended until July 31, 2015 in quantities not to exceed 37,916,667 square meter equivalents (SME). According to Presidential Proclamation 9223 (here), the change is necessary because of a technical error in U.S. Note 13 to subchapter XIV in chapter 99 that set the expiration date of the TRQ at Dec. 31, 2014.
Special classification provisions. The 2015 HTS gives Peru and Bahrain duty-free status for goods returned under subheadings 9802.00.60 and 9802.00.80, respectively. It also accords Bahrain duty free status for ski racing equipment designed to protect from injury under subheading 9817.61.01.
Statistical suffixes. The 2015 HTS includes changes to statistical suffixes for various subheadings approved by the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules. The modifications take effect Jan. 1, as follows:
(Note: When new suffixes are added, the residual “other” category under the relevant eight-digit subheading may also be renumbered accordingly. The following does not include the new “other” statistical suffixes.)
Olives. Subheading 2005.70.75 for non-green olives in saline solution, not canned or in airtight containers of glass or metal, is subdivided into statistical suffixes for whole pitted olives (2005.70.7510), sliced olives (2005.70.7515), chopped or minced olives (2005.70.7520), and other olives, including wedged or broken (2005.70.7525).
Gift-wrapping ribbon. New statistical suffix 3920.20.0015 is created for “other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of plastics, noncellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials,” of propylene polymers, for “strip put up in packaging for use as decorative or gift-wrapping ribbon.”
Gift-wrapping bows. Another new statistical suffix, 3926.40.00, is being created for “bows and similar products for decorative purposes, including gift-packaging and the like” under the subheading for plastic “statuettes and other ornamental articles.”
Plastic elastic bands. New statistical suffix 3926.90.9905 is added for “elastic bands made wholly of plastics.”
Hong Kong sweaters. Previous versions of the HTS included statistical suffixes under subheading 6110.90.90 for sweaters that are assembled in Hong Kong from knit-to-shape component parts knitted elsewhere, not made of wool or animal hair, cotton, man-made materials or over 70 percent silk and not subject to cotton, wool or man-made fiber restraints. The 2015 HTS does away with the statistical suffixes for Hong Kong-assembled sweaters, replacing them with simpler “other” categories.
Diamond sawblade segments. New statistical suffix 6804.21.0010 is added for “segments for circular sawblades, consisting of diamond agglomerated with metal,” under the subheading for millstones, grindstones and grinding wheels not for milling, grinding or pulping.
Diamond sawblade cores. A new statistical suffix, 8202.39.0040, is also being added for diamond sawblade cores, which were previously classified under the general statistical suffix for other circular sawblades.
Parts of haying machines and balers. New statistical suffix 8433.90.5025 is added for parts of haying machines and balers.
Large top-loading washing machines. New statistical suffix 8450.20.0040 is added for top-loading, non-coin operated clothes washing machines of a dry linen capacity exceeding 10 kilograms.
Transformer parts. The 2015 HTS adds more detail on the classification of transformer parts under subheading 8504.90.95. Instead of a single statistical suffix for all transformer parts, the 2015 HTS includes new statistical suffixes for laminations for incorporation into stacked cores (8504.90.9534), stacked cores for incorporation into transformers (8504.90.9538), wound cores for incorporation into transformers (8504.90.9542), and other transformer parts (8504.90.9546).
Extension cords. New statistical suffix 8544.42.90 is added for extension cords under the tariff subheading for “other electrical conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 volts.” The provision refers to new statistical note 6 to chapter 85, which defines extension cords under subheading 8544.42.9010 as “a flexible cord assembly rated at 120 V with a maximum of 20 A, incorporating an electrical plug conforming to types 1-15P, 5-15P or 5-20P of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and one or more receptacles conforming to NEMA type 1-15R, 5-15R or 56-20R.”
Cane and osier children’s furniture. New statistical suffix 9403.89.6003 is added for “cribs, toddler beds, bassinets, and cradles; play yards and other enclosures for confining children,” not made of metal, wooden, plastics, bamboo or rattan (e.g., cane, osier or similar materials).