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

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
CR EIC 111/1/13/3

27 September 2018

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 882/2018

US : Exemption of De Minimis Shipments (Goods Valued at $800 or less) from Section 301 Tariffs

The US Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) clarified in its official website that de minimis shipments are not subject to additional tariffs imposed on Chinese imports under Section 301 investigation against China. A de minimis shipment refers to goods valued at US$800 or less imported into the US by one person on one day.

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 Mainland imports and take other actions.

3.Subsequently, the US imposed a 25% tariff on Mainland imports worth about US$34 billion and US$16 billion on 6 July 2018 and 23 August 2018 respectively. The US further imposed a 10% tariff on Mainland imports worth about US$200 billion starting 24 September 2018 and the tariff will increase to 25% on 1 January 2019. Please refer to CIC Nos. 582/2018, 787/2018 and 858/2018 dated respectively 19 June 2018, 17 August 2018 and 18 September 2018 for details.

4.The US CBP has recently clarified in its official website that goods entered under de minimis exemption (i.e. goods valued at US$800 or less under Section 321 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act) are not subject to Section 301 tariffs. However, there are some restrictions, such as goods in need of inspection and products subject to antidumping and countervailing duties.

5.For further details, please refer to:

  • CBP' clarification on exemption of De Minimis Shipments in response to the Section 301 investigation:
    https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/section-301-trade-remedies/faqs
  • De Minimis Shipments under Section 321 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act:
    https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/TM%20Section%20321%20%20Issue%20Paper%20Nov%202017.pdf

ENQUIRIES

6.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Ivy TAM)
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.