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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city

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

4 April 2018

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 319/2018

US : Proposed Tariff List on Certain Products of Mainland China Subject to Additional Tariffs under Section 301 Investigation 

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 293/2018 of 23 March 2018 regarding the proposed additional tariffs by the United States on certain products of Mainland China as a result of the US' Section 301 investigation, the US Trade Representative (USTR) released on 3 April 2018 the proposed list of products imported from Mainland China that could be subject to the additional tariffs, which would be finalized after a process of public notice, comments and hearing.

DETAILS

2.Following the USTR's Section 301 investigation findings released on 22 March 2018, the US President announced that the US would impose additional tariffs on certain Chinese imports and take other actions. The USTR accordingly published on 3 April 2018 the proposed list of products covering approximately 1,300 separate tariff lines (as defined by 8-digit subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the US) imported from Mainland China that could be subject to an additional 25% ad valorem rate of duty. Sectors subject to the proposed tariffs include industries such as aerospace, information and communication technology, robotics, machinery, etc. The proposed list of products is set out in the Annex to the notice of the USTR.

3.The proposed list of products will undergo further review following public comments and hearing before the USTR issues a final determination on the products subject to the additional duties. In this regard, the USTR is inviting public comments from interested persons with respect to any aspect of the proposed action, including:

  • The specific products to be subject to increased duties, including whether products listed in the Annex should be retained or removed, or whether products not currently on the list should be added;
  • The level of the increase, if any, in the rate of duty; and
  • The appropriate aggregate level of trade to be covered by additional duties.

4.Written comments must be in English and be sent electronically via www.regulations.gov by 11 May 2018 through a public comment form, which is strongly encouraged by the USTR posted on its website under "Enforcement/Section 301 investigations" and on the www.regulations.gov docket.

5.In addition, there will a public hearing to be held in Washington DC on 15 May 2018. The request to appear must be submitted by 23 April 2018. Same as the procedures for written comments, all submissions must be in English and be sent electronically via www.regulations.gov. The docket number USTR-2018-0005 has to be entered for submitting a request to appear at the hearing. Post-hearing rebuttal comments can also be submitted by 22 May 2018.

6.For further details of the US' proposed actions in response to the Section 301 findings, please refer to the relevant USTR press release and notice:

USTR press release
https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2018/april/under-section-301-action-ustr

USTR notice
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/301FRN.pdf

ENQUIRIES

7.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

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.