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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

8 November 2019
(Last updated on 26 June 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 811/2019

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

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced on 7 November 2019 the fourth 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 13 November 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 three batches of excluded products in August, September and October 2019.  For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular nos. 594/2019, 703/2019, 771/2019 dated 5 August 2019, 19 September 2019 and 24 October 2019 respectively.

3.The USTR announced on 7 November 2019 the fourth batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs.  The products include two existing 10-digit HTSUS subheadings 8409.91.3000 and 8708.50.9500 covering aluminium cylinder heads for spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines for certain vehicles; parts and accessories of the certain motor vehicles, half-shafts; as well as 34 specially prepared product descriptions, covering floor coverings of polyvinyl chloride; vinyl floor tiles of polymers of vinyl chloride; dog and cat leashes; standard wood moldings; assembled fence sections; silk fabrics; high tenacity single yarn of polyester multifilament; sinks; static converters designed for wireless (inductive) charging of telecommunication apparatus; casters; circular knitted fabrics of polyester and spandex; cutting pliers; ultrasonic cleaners; drive shafts; tension pole shower caddies; 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 fourth batch of products excluded from Section 301 tariffs (13 November 2019) and subsequent amendments (24 April 2020 and 24 June 2020):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-11-13/pdf/2019-24623.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-04-24/pdf/2020-08670.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-06-24/pdf/2020-13596.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for products excluded from Section 301 Tariffs (List 3) (20 November 2019):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-26d3256?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.