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

10 March 2020
(Last updated on 13 July 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 191/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$300 billion - First Batch of Products Excluded from Additional Tariffs under List 4A

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced on 6 March 2020 the first batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs imposed on Mainland products under List 4A and the official Federal Register (FR) notice was issued on 10 March 2020.  These product exclusions will apply as of 1 September 2019 until 1 September 2020.  The USTR will continue to issue decisions on pending requests on a periodic basis.

DETAILS

2.On 1 September 2019, the US imposed 15% additional tariffs on Mainland products under List 4A (worth about US$120 billion).  As the US and China had reached a Phase One trade agreement in January 2020, the tariffs for List 4A were reduced to 7.5% on 14 February 2020 and the US also suspended indefinitely its plan to impose additional tariffs on Mainland products under List 4B (worth about US$160 billion).  On List 4A, the USTR had earlier initiated an exclusion process for stakeholders to submit requests for the exclusion of specific products from the additional tariffs.  For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular nos. 758/2019, 902/2019 and 62/2020 dated and 21 October 2019, 16 December 2019 and 16 January 2020 respectively.

3.On 6 March 2020, the USTR announced the first batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs.  The products include eight existing 10-digit HTSUS subheadings 3401.19.0000, 3926.90.9910, 4015.19.0510, 4015.19.0550, 4818.90.0000, 6210.10.5000, 6307.90.6090 and 6307.90.6800 covering soap and organic surface-active products and preparations; laboratory ware; medical gloves, mittens and mitts of natural rubber and others; bed sheets and similar household, sanitary or hospital articles; nonwoven disposable apparel designed for use in hospitals and clinics; as well as surgical drapes etc.

4.These product exclusions will apply as of 1 September 2019 until 1 September 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 first batch of products under List 4A excluded from Section 301 tariffs (10 March 2020) and subsequent amendment (10 July 2020):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-03-10/pdf/2020-05000.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-10/pdf/2020-14916.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for products excluded from Section 301 Tariffs (List 4A) (9 March 2020):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-2802f4f?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.