The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is publishing two new sets of product exclusions from the 25 percent Section 301 tariffs on goods from China (see 1909300009). The product exclusions apply retroactively to when each tranche initially took effect. That was July 6, 2018, for the first tranche, and Aug. 23, 2018, for the second tranche.
Section 301 (too broad)
Football fans will “need to be aware” this fall that Section 301 tariffs ranging from 15 percent to 30 percent on Chinese goods “will drive up the price of everything from footballs and TVs to portable grills and fanwear,” the National Retail Federation blogged on Sept. 30. “Fans who prefer to watch the game from the comfort of their couch won’t be spared,” NRF said. Overall, “Americans would pay $711 million more than they otherwise would for ... [televisions] hit with 25 percent tariffs,” it said, citing a Trade Partnership report it commissioned in June. Tariffs of 15 percent took effect Sept. 1 on finished TVs from China, among other goods on List 4A. “Think of these tariffs as 15- to 30-yard penalties between you and the goal of a fun weekend afternoon with your favorite team,” NRF said. “As you take a break during halftime, take a moment to tell Congress to end the trade war and remove all tariffs.”
CBP added the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with recently excluded goods in the second tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Sept. 29, it said in a CSMS messages. For the second tranche exclusions, filers of imported products that were granted an exclusion (see 1909180004) should report the regular Chapters 39, 73, 76, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 90 Harmonized Tariff Schedule number, as well as subheading 9903.88.17. “Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTS number for the Section 301 duties when" subheading 9903.88.17 is submitted, CBP said.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued two new sets of product exclusions from the 25 percent Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. The exclusions include products from the first two lists of Section 301 goods. The new exclusions from the first tranche include "92 specially prepared product descriptions" and cover 129 separate requests, according to the notice. The second tranche exclusions include 111 product descriptions and covers 382 requests, the agency said.
CBP will add the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with the seventh group of exclusions from the first tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Sept. 29, it said in a CSMS message. Filers of imported products that were granted an exclusion (see 1909180013) should report the regular Chapter 84, 85, 87, 88 or 90 Harmonized Tariff Schedule number, as well as subheading 9903.88.14, for products subject to Section 301 duties on products from China but that have been granted an exclusion by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTS number for the Section 301 duties when HTS 9903.88.14 is submitted,” CBP said.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced a bill that would distribute tariff revenue from safeguard tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, Section 232 tariffs and Section 301 tariffs to low and moderate-income taxpayers. The entire amount collected would be divided among taxpayers who earn less than $84,200 for individual filers or $168,400 for joint filers, he said Sept. 26. The household's share of the total revenue would come as a check, even if that household's tax liability was less than the amount. People who are claimed as dependents on others' taxes, or who do not have legal immigration status, would not be eligible.
CBP will add the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with the second group of excluded goods from the third tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Sept 29, it said in a CSMS message. Filers of imported products that were granted an exclusion (see 1909180004) should report the regular Chapters 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 54, 55, 59, 73, 76, 83, 84, 85, 87 and 94 Harmonized Tariff Schedule number, as well as subheading 9903.88.18, for products subject to Section 301 duties on products from China but that have been granted an exclusion by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTS number for the Section 301 duties when HTS 9903.88.18 is submitted,” CBP said.
A coalition of U.S. manufacturers seeks the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on glass containers from China, it said in a petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission Sept. 24. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Sept. 16-20 in case they were missed.
The CBP Base Metals Center of Excellence and Expertise is overseeing a huge increase in the number of Post Summary Correction requests for retroactive application of Section 232 exclusions, agency officials recently told the American Institute for International Steel. "The Base Metals Center PSC workload has increased approximately 1500% from pre Section 232," AIIS said. As a result of that volume, "[w]hen exclusions are claimed retroactively by PSC, some time may be required to process," the trade group said.