24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref. : EIC 111/3
EIC 111/3/13
12 March 2025
(Updated on 17 March 2025)
Dear Sirs,
Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 200/2025 dated 6 March 2025 on the US' modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) with respect to the implementation of duties on steel and aluminium with effect from 12 March 2025, on 11 March 2025 the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that the US Secretary of Commerce has certified collection of the 25% import duty on certain imports of steel articles, aluminium articles and their derivative articles from all countries/economies (unless otherwise specified) effective from 12 March 2025.
2.Pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the US imposed additional tariffs of 25% and 10% on respectively steel and aluminium products imported from all countries/economies (except certain economies which are fully exempted or subject to quotas) on 23 March 2018 under the "Section 232 investigation". The US further included certain derivatives of steel and aluminium products for the additional tariffs on 8 February 2020. The US Department of Commerce had also developed an exclusion process for manufacturers to submit requests for the exclusion of specific products from the additional tariffs.
3.On 10 February 2025, the US President signed two proclamations to reinstate 25% tariff on steel imports and increase tariffs on aluminium imports to 25% from all countries/economies (unless otherwise specified), with effect from 12 March 2025.
4.On 5 March 2025, the US Department of Commerce issued two Federal Register (FR) notices to publish modifications to the HTSUS so that it conforms to the amendments and effective dates in the relevant presidential proclamations on imports of steel and aluminium. The duties set out in the Annexes to the FR notices are effective with respect to certain steel and aluminium products that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12 March 2025, except for those specified respectively in subdivision (n) and subdivision (k) which shall be effective upon public notification of the US Secretary of Commerce.
5.On 11 March 2025, the US CBP issued two Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) messages confirming that the US Secretary of Commerce has certified collection of the 25% import duty on certain imports of steel articles, aluminium articles and their derivative articles from all countries/economies (unless otherwise specified) effective from 12 March 2025. Among others, effective with respect to the concerned articles entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12 March 2025, the 25% duty rate applies to the value of the steel or aluminium content respectively for derivative steel products listed in subdivision (n) (new steel derivative articles not classified in Chapter 73 of the HTSUS subject to Section 232 measures) and for derivative aluminium products listed in subdivision (k) (new aluminium derivative articles not classified in Chapter 76 of the HTSUS subject to Section 232 measures) of the Annexes of the relevant FR notices on 5 March 2025. Separately, the US CBP also issued CSMS message announcing that relevant absolute quotas shall expire on 11 March 2025.
6.For further details, please refer to the US CBP's messages and the FR notice:
US CBP's Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Updated Guidance: Import Duties on Imports of Steel and Steel Derivative Products
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3d66da7?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
US CBP's Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Updated Guidance: Import Duties on Imports of Aluminum and Aluminum Derivative Products
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3d66df0?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
US CBP's Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Quota Guidance: Proclamation 10896 of February 10, 2025, Adjusting Imports of Steel and Aluminum into the United States
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3d64aef?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
FR notice
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-03-14/pdf/2025-04210.pdf
7.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at telephone number 2398 5405.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Kwany KOU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.