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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 March 2020
(Last updated on 16 July 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 249/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$200 billion - 11th Batch of Products Excluded from Additional Tariffs

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced on 20 March 2020 the 11th 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 26 March 2020. 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 ten batches of excluded products from August 2019 to March 2020. For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular nos. 594/2019, 703/2019, 771/2019, 811/2019, 858/2019, 900/2019, 12/2020, 89/2020, 138/2020 and 218/2020 dated 5 August 2019, 19 September 2019, 24 October 2019, 8 November 2019, 27 November 2019, 13 December 2019, 3 January 2020, 5 February 2020, 21 February 2020 and 16 March 2020 respectively.

3.On 20 March 2020, the USTR announced the 11th batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs. The products include one existing 10-digit HTSUS subheading 7002.10.2000 covering certain glass in balls; as well as 176 specially prepared product descriptions, covering certain seeds; certain chemical products; hoses of vulcanized rubber other than hard rubber; backpacks and duffel bags; yarn of cashmere or camel hair; polyester filament tow; polypropylene fiber tow; textile fabrics of woven polyester or of a blend of cotton and polyester; circular single knitted fabric; screen protectors of tempered safety glass; rear-view mirrors for vehicles; skid chains of steel; stationary air compressors; bandsaws for working wood; single phase AC electric motors; inductors; printed circuit board; parts of motor vehicles; bicycles; mounted camera lenses; cabinets of wood with glass fronts; LED lamps; 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 11th batch of products excluded from Section 301 tariffs (26 March 2020) and subsequent amendments (28 May 2020 and 15 July 2020): 
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-03-26/pdf/2020-06276.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-05-28/pdf/2020-11426.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-15/pdf/2020-15288.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for products excluded from Section 301 Tariffs (List 3) (27 March 2020):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-283a1bf?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.