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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

23 March 2020
(updated on 26 March 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 245/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products - Seeking Public Comments on Exclusions of Medical-care Products from Additional Tariffs to Address the COVID-19 Outbreak

The US Trade Representative (USTR) issued a notice on 20 March 2020 seeking public comments on exclusions of additional medical-care products from Section 301 tariffs to address the COVID-19 Outbreak. The comment process will remain open until 25 June 2020, and may be extended as appropriate.

DETAILS

2.Since July 2018, the US has imposed additional tariffs on Mainland products worth approximately US$370 billion under the Section 301 investigation in four tranches (Lists 1-3: 25%; List 4A: 7.5%). The USTR also initiated exclusion processes for stakeholders to submit requests for the exclusion of specific products from the additional tariffs. Subsequently, certain personal protective equipment products and other medical-care related products have been excluded from the additional tariffs.

3.On 20 March 2020, the USTR issued a notice seeking public comments on exclusions of additional medical-care products from Section 301 tariffs to address the COVID-19 Outbreak. The comment process has the following important date and features:

  • The Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov) will remain open at least until 25 June 2020, and may be extended as appropriate.
  • The Docket Number is USTR–2020–0014.
  • The exclusion processes for Lists 3 and 4 are still in process and are not affected.
  • Comments may be submitted regarding any product covered by the tariff action in the Section 301 investigation, regardless of whether the product is subject to a pending or denied exclusion request.
  • Each comment must specifically identify the particular product of concern and explain precisely how the product relates to the response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

4.For details, please refer to the USTR's press release and Federal Register (FR) notice:

  • USTR's Press Release (20 March 2020):
    https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2020/march/ustr-response-coronavirus-crisis
  • FR Notice (25 March 2020):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-03-25/pdf/2020-06285.pdf

ENQUIRIES

5.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.