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

11 June 2019

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 447/2019

US : Additional Tariffs against Imported Steel and Aluminium - New Product Exclusions Portal

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 283/2018 of 20 March 2018 regarding the detailed procedures for submitting requests for exclusions of specific steel and aluminium products from the US's additional tariffs of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminium products via the Federal rulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov), the US Department of Commerce (DoC) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register (FR) on 10 June 2019 to change the process for requesting exclusions.

2.The US DoC has developed a "232 Exclusions Portal" (https://trade.gov/232/steelalum) for persons submitting exclusion requests, objections to exclusion requests, rebuttals, and surrebuttals to replace the use of the Federal rulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov) and streamline the exclusions process while enhancing data integrity and quality controls.

3.The US DoC will begin accepting new exclusion requests on the 232 Exclusions Portal (https://trade.gov/232/steelalum) on 13 June 2019 and will no longer accept new exclusion requests on the Federal rulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov). The last day on which an exclusion request may be initiated through regulations.gov is 12 June 2019. Objections, rebuttals, and surrebuttals must always be filed on the system where the exclusion request was submitted, whether in www.regulations.gov or in the 232 Exclusions Portal.

4.The US DoC has published a detailed user guide for the 232 Exclusions Portal (https://www.commerce.gov/page/section-232-investigations). There will be a transition period during which both the regulations.gov system and the new 232 Exclusions Portal will coexist. The US DoC will continue to use regulations.gov for the processing of all exclusion requests that have already been filed or that are filed no later than 12 June 2019, including related submissions that are filed in regulations.gov after 12 June 2019, until the underlying exclusions requests receive a final decision.

5.The US DoC also allows the opportunity for public comment on the new 232 Exclusions Portal. Comments on the interim final rule must be submitted to DoC no later than 9 August 2019 by one of the following methods:

  • By the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket number BIS-2019-0005).
  • By email to publiccomments@bis.doc.gov (Include RIN 0694-AH55 in the subject line).
  • By mail or delivery to Regulatory Policy Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2099B, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (Reference RIN 0694-AH55).

6.For further details of the requirements for submissions, please refer to the following links and the relevant FR notice:

  • The US DoC's official website regarding Section 232 Investigations:
    https://www.commerce.gov/page/section-232-investigations
  • New 232 Exclusions Portal Guide:
    https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2019-06/232%20Portal%20External%20User%20Guide%20Version%2006_10_2019_0.pdf
  • FR Notice on the US DoC's interim final rule (10 June 2019) :
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-06-10/pdf/2019-12254.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.