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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

2 September 2020
(Last updated on 8 October 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 666/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$300 billion - Extension of Certain Product Exclusions until 31 December 2020

Further to Commercial Information Circular (CIC) nos. 494/2020, 550/2020 and 629/2020 dated 29 June 2020, 20 July 2020 and 17 August 2020, the US Trade Representative (USTR) issued on 28 August 2020 a notice to announce extension of certain exclusions from 7.5% tariffs imposed on Mainland products worth approximately US$300 billion ("List 4A") under the Section 301 investigation and the official Federal Register (FR) notice was issued on 2 September 2020. The extension will apply as of 1 September 2020 until 31 December 2020.

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). The USTR had initiated an exclusion process under List 4A for stakeholders to submit requests for the exclusion of specific products from the additional tariffs. Subsequently, eight batches of excluded products were announced from March to August 2020. For details, please refer to CIC nos. 191/2020, 217/2020, 261/2020, 392/2020, 454/2020, 536/2020, 554/2020 and 613/2020 dated 10 March 2020, 16 March 2020, 27 March 2020, 12 May 2020, 10 June 2020, 10 July 2020, 22 July 2020 and 7 August 2020 respectively.

3.After a public comment process, the USTR issued a notice on 28 August 2020 to announce extension of certain product exclusions from 7.5% tariffs, which will apply as of 1 September 2020 until 31 December 2020. The products include 14 existing 10-digit HTSUS subheadings covering 0505.10.0050; 0505.10.0055; 3401.19.0000; 3926.90.9910; 4015.19.0510; 4015.19.0550; 4818.90.0020 or 4818.90.0080; 5210.11.4040; 5210.11.6020; 5504.10.0000; 6210.10.5000; 6307.90.6090; 6307.90.6800 and 6506.10.6030 covering feathers and down; certain soap and organic surface-active products and preparations; laboratory ware; certain medical gloves, mittens and mitts; certain face masks; sheeting; poplin or broadcloth; artificial staple fibers of viscose rayon; nonwoven disposable apparel designed for use in hospitals, clinics, laboratories or contaminated areas; certain surgical drapes and motorcycle helmets.

4.In addition, the extensions also cover 73 specially prepared product descriptions, covering certain macaques; feathers of a kind used for stuffing; shower heads of plastics; plastics coverings designed to fit over wound sites or casts; single-use sterile drapes and covers of plastics; sterile decanters of polystyrene plastics; printed art and pictorial books; women's knit robes in chief weight of cotton; certain babies' sleep sacks, swaddle sacks and blanket sleepers; gloves; certain bathrobes; blankets; dust covers of knitted polyester fabric; cold packs; disposable shoe and boot covers of man-made fiber fabrics; face masks and particulate facepiece respirators, of textile fabrics; laparotomy sponges of cotton; single-use blood pressure cuff sleeves, medical masks and stethoscope covers; athletic, recreational and sporting headgear; sewing machines; tracking devices; wireless communication apparatus; protective articles; certain watch cases; acoustic upright pianos; harp sharping levers of steel; parts of child safety seats; pillow shells; paintings, drawings or pastels; postage stamps; collectors' pieces of mineralogical interest; etc.

5.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.

6.For further details, please refer to the relevant notices:

  • FR notice on extension of certain product exclusions from 7.5% tariffs (2 September 2020) and subsequent amendment (7 October 2020):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-02/pdf/2020-19419.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-10-07/pdf/2020-22200.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for products excluded from Section 301 Tariffs (List 4A Product Exclusion Extensions) (10 September 2020):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-29fa516?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2

ENQUIRIES

7.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.