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

23 December 2019

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 925/2019

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$34 billion - Extension of Certain First Batch Product Exclusions from 25% Tariffs until 28 December 2020

The US Trade Representative (USTR) issued on 23 December 2019 a Federal Register (FR) notice to announce extension of certain first batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs imposed on Mainland products worth about US$34 billion under the Section 301 investigation.  The extension will apply as of 28 December 2019 until 28 December 2020 (one year).

DETAILS

2.On 6 July 2018, the US imposed an additional tariff of 25% on Mainland products worth approximately US$34 billion under the Section 301 investigation.  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 on 28 December 2018 the first batch of products to be excluded from 25% tariffs, which is set to expire on 28 December 2019.  For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular Nos. 1163/2018 and 781/2019 of 28 December 2018 and 29 October 2019 respectively.

3.After a public comment process, the USTR issued on 23 December 2019 a FR notice to announce extension of certain first batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs, which will apply as of 28 December 2019 until 28 December 2020 (one year).  The products include two existing 10-digit HTSUS subheadings 8418.69.0120 and 8525.60.1010 covering self-contained drinking water coolers and citizens band transceivers; as well as four specially prepared product descriptions, covering manually powered roller machines with dies for embossing paper; iron and steel angle cock handle assemblies; radiation therapy systems; and thermostats designed for air conditioning or heating systems.

4.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.

5.For further details, please refer to the relevant FR notice: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-12-23/pdf/2019-27611.pdf

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.