relative file path for layout
Skip to main content  Skip to search  Skip to main menu
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

15 May 2019
(updated on 17 May 2019)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 364/2019

US : Proposed Additional Tariffs (up to 25%) on Certain Mainland Products Worth US$300 Billion under Section 301 Investigation - Seeking Public Comment

The US Trade Representative (USTR) posted a notice on 13 May 2019 to propose an additional tariff of up to 25% on 3,805 full and partial tariff subheadings of Mainland products worth approximately US$300 billion under the Section 301 investigation. The USTR is seeking public comment on the proposal and will hold a public hearing on 17 June 2019.

DETAILS

2.The US has earlier imposed additional 25% tariffs on Mainland products worth approximately US$250 billion under the US' Section 301 investigation against China.

3.In accordance with the US President's direction, the USTR posted a notice on 13 May 2019 to further propose an additional tariff of up to 25% on 3,805 full and partial tariff subheadings of Mainland products worth approximately US$300 billion under the Section 301 investigation. The proposed list covers essentially all products not currently covered by the Section 301 investigation tariff measures, but excludes pharmaceuticals, certain pharmaceutical inputs, select medical goods, rare earth materials, and critical minerals. Product exclusions granted by the USTR on prior tranches would not be affected.

4.The USTR is seeking public comments 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.

5.Written comments to the USTR must be in English and be sent electronically via www.regulations.gov (the docket number is USTR-2019-0004) by 17 June 2019. In addition, public hearings will be held in Washington DC on 17 June 2019 and requests to appear at the hearing must be submitted by 10 June 2019. Post-hearing rebuttal comments can also be submitted in seven days after the last day of the public hearing.

6.For further details of the US' actions in response to the Section 301 investigation, please refer to the relevant USTR statement of 10 May 2019 and Federal Register (FR) notice of 17 May 2019:

USTR statement
https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2019/may/statement-us-trade-representative

FR notice
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-05-17/pdf/2019-10191.pdf

ENQUIRIES

7.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.