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

26 August 2019
(updated on 3 September 2019)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 642/2019

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$550 billion - A further 5% Increase of Tariffs

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced on 23 August 2019 to increase the additional tariff rates by five more percent on approximately US$550 billion worth of Mainland products under the US' Section 301 investigation against Mainland China.

2.Specifically, for US$250 billion worth of Mainland products (i.e. Lists 1, 2 and 3), the USTR will increase the tariff rate from 25% to 30% , effective 1 October 2019 following a notice and comment period. For US$300 billion worth of Mainland products (i.e. Lists 4A and 4B), the tariff rate will increase from 10% to 15% , effective on the original scheduled dates (i.e. 1 September 2019 and 15 December 2019).

DETAILS

3.The US has earlier imposed additional 25% tariffs on Mainland products worth approximately US$250 billion (List 1: US$34 billion; List 2: US$16 billion; List 3: US$200 billion) under the US' Section 301 investigation against Mainland China. For details, please refer to CIC Nos. 582/2018, 759/2018 and 426/2019 dated 19 June 2018, 8 August 2018 and 3 June 2019 respectively.

4.On 13 August 2019, the USTR further announced 10% additional tariffs on Mainland products worth approximately US$300 billion (List 4A - effective 1 September 2019; List 4B - effective 15 December 2019). For details, please refer to CIC No. 614/2019 dated 14 August 2019.

5.On 23 August 2019, the USTR announced to increase the additional tariff rates on approximately US$550 billion worth of Mainland products (Lists 1 to 4) by five more percent. Specifically, for US$250 billion worth of Mainland products (i.e. Lists 1, 2 and 3), the USTR will increase the tariff rate from 25% to 30% , effective 1 October 2019 following a notice and comment period. For US$300 billion worth of Mainland products (i.e. Lists 4A and 4B), the tariff rate will increase from 10% to 15% , effective on the original scheduled dates (i.e. 1 September 2019 and 15 December 2019).

6.For further details, please refer to the relevant notices:

  • USTR's notice regarding 5% increase of tariffs for Lists 1 to 4 (23 August 2019):
    https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2019/august/ustr-statement-section-301-tariff
  • FR notice regarding increase of tariffs from 10% to 15% for Lists 4A and 4B (30 August 2019):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-08-30/pdf/2019-18838.pdf
  • FR notice regarding proposed increase of tariffs from 25% to 30% for Lists 1, 2, 3 effective on 1 October 2019 and seeking public comments (3 September 2019):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-09-03/pdf/2019-18946.pdf

ENQUIRIES

7.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact Miss K Y HO at 2398 5405 or 2398 5282.

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.