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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. : EIC 111/2/18
EIC 111/3
EIC 111/3/13

9 March 2018

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 240/2018

US : Additional Tariffs against Imported Steel and Aluminium

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 196/2018 of 22 February 2018 regarding the possible remedies against imported steel and aluminium, the President of the United States (U.S.) signed on 8 March 2018 two proclamations imposing additional tariffs of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminium products respectively imported from all countries/economies, except Canada and Mexico, with effect from 23 March 2018 (US time).

DETAILS

2.Concurring in the findings of the U.S. Department of Commerce's investigation reports issued on 16 February 2018 that steel and aluminium articles were being imported into the U.S. in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the U.S., the U.S. President signed two proclamations on 8 March 2018 to adjust the imports of steel and aluminium articles by imposing additional ad valorem tariffs in the exercise of the authorities under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Details of the measures against the two imported products are set out below:

A. Steel:

  • An additional 25% ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, will be imposed on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on 23 March 2018 (U.S. time) 1 ; and
  • For the purposes of the measure, "steel articles" are defined at the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 6 digit level as: 7206.10 through 7216.50, 7216.99 through 7301.10, 7302.10, 7302.40 through 7302.90, and 7304.10 through 7306.90, including any subsequent revisions to these HTS classifications.

B. Aluminium:

  • An additional 10% ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, will be imposed on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on 23 March 2018 (U.S. time) 1 ; and
  • For the purposes of the measure, "aluminium articles" are defined in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) as: (a) unwrought aluminium (HTS 7601) ; (b) aluminium bars, rods, and profiles (HTS 7604) ; (c) aluminium wire (HTS 7605) ; (d) aluminium plate, sheet, strip, and foil (flat rolled products) (HTS 7606 and 7607) ; (e) aluminium tubes and pipes and tube and pipe fitting (HTS 7608 and 7609) ; and (f) aluminium castings and forgings (HTS 7616.99.51.60 and 7616.99.51.70), including any subsequent revisions to these HTS classifications.

3.For further details, please refer to the relevant proclamations and fact sheet:

  • Presidential Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Steel:
    https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-adjusting-imports-steel-united-states/
  • Presidential Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Aluminium:
    https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-adjusting-imports-aluminum-united-states/
  • Fact Sheet on the Proclamations:
    https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-addressing-unfair-trade-practices-threaten-harm-national-security/

ENQUIRIES

4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 3403 6099.

Yours faithfully,

(Jasper LAM)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

1 The duties are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported steel and aluminum articles.

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.