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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

24 October 2019
(Last updated on 25 August 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 771/2019

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$200 billion - Third Batch of Products Excluded from Additional Tariffs

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced on 23 October 2019 the third batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs imposed on Mainland products worth approximately US$200 billion ("List 3") under the Section 301 investigation and the official Federal Register (FR) notice was issued on 28 October 2019.  These product exclusions will be retroactive to 24 September 2018, and remain in place until 7 August 2020.  The USTR will continue to issue decisions on pending requests on a periodic basis.

DETAILS

2.On 24 September 2018, the US imposed an additional tariff of 10% on Mainland imports worth approximately US$200 billion ("List 3") under the Section 301 investigation.  The tariff was increased from 10% to 25% on 10 May 2019.  The USTR also initiated an exclusion process for stakeholders to submit requests for the exclusion of specific products from the additional tariffs.  Subsequently, the USTR announced two batches of excluded products in August and September 2019.  For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular nos. 594/2019 and 703/2019 dated 5 August 2019 and 19 September 2019 respectively.

3.The USTR announced on 23 October 2019 the third batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs.  The products include 83 specially prepared product descriptions, covering erythritol; sebacic acid; brake bushings; yarn of carded Merino sheep wool; woven dyed fabrics of 100% textured polyester filament yarn; nonwoven fabrics of man-made fibers; seat belt webbing of man-made fibers; imitation leather fabrics; microscope slides; kerosene air heaters; stamped steel rings; portable work table bases; extension wrenches; pressure washers; cash drawers for cash registers; hand operated butterfly valves; faucets of brass; electric fireplaces; mobile wi-fi hotspots; insulated electric conductors; safety seat belts of the motor vehicles; wooden jewelry armoires; bassinets; desk or table top computer monitor sit/stand workstations; etc.

4.These product exclusions will be retroactive to 24 September 2018, and remain in place until 7 August 2020.  The exclusions are available for any product that meets the description set out in the exclusion, regardless of whether the importer filed an exclusion request.  The USTR will continue to issue decisions on pending requests on a periodic basis.

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

  • FR notice on the third batch of products excluded from Section 301 tariffs (28 October 2019) and subsequent amendments (15 July 2020 and 24 August 2020):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-10-28/pdf/2019-23441.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-15/pdf/2020-15288.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-08-24/pdf/2020-18517.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for products excluded from Section 301 Tariffs (List 3) (8 November 2019):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-26af621?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2

ENQUIRIES

6.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact Miss K Y HO at telephone number 2398 5405.

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.