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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city

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

29 July 2020
(Last updated on 19 November 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 571/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$16 billion - Extension of Certain First Batch Product Exclusions from 25% Tariffs until 31 December 2020

The US Trade Representative (USTR) issued on 28 July 2020 a notice to announce extension of certain first batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs imposed on Mainland products worth about US$16 billion under the Section 301 investigation and the official Federal Register (FR) notice was issued on 30 July 2020. The extension will apply as of 31 July 2020 until 31 December 2020.

DETAILS

2.On 23 August 2018, the US imposed an additional tariff of 25% on Mainland products worth approximately US$16 billion ("List 2") 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 from July to September 2019 three batches of excluded products. The first batch of product exclusions will expire on 31 July 2020.  For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular Nos. 576/2019 and 364/2020 of 30 July 2019 and 29 April 2020 respectively.

3.After a public comment process, the USTR issued a notice to announce extension of certain first batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs, which will apply as of 31 July 2020 until 31 December 2020. The products include 14 specially prepared product descriptions, covering polytetrafluoroethylene ((C2F4)n); polyethylene film; rectangular sheets of high-density or low-density polyethylene; gasoline or liquid propane (LP) engines; dispensers of hand-cleaning solutions; electric powered walk behind rotary tillers; certain AC motors; position or speed sensors for motor vehicle transmission systems; wheel speed sensors for anti-lock motor vehicle braking systems; apparatus using passive infrared detection sensors; liquid leak detectors; programmable robots, motorcycles and digital clinical thermometers.

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 notice:

  • FR notice on extension of certain first batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs (30 July 2020) and subsequent amendment (18 November 2020):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-30/pdf/2020-16529.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-11-18/pdf/2020-25401.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for extension of certain first batch product exclusions under US$16 billion List (List 2) (7 August 2020):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-2994af1?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.