Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref. : EIC 111/2/18
EIC 111/3
EIC 111/3/13
CR EIC 111/1/13/3

21 September 2020
(Last updated on 5 October 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 709/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$34 billion - Extension of Certain Seventh Batch Product Exclusions from 25% Tariffs until 31 December 2020

The US Trade Representative (USTR) issued on 16 September 2020 a notice to announce extension of certain seventh batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs imposed on Mainland products worth about US$34 billion under the Section 301 investigation. The official Federal Register (FR) notice was issued on 22 September 2020. The extension will apply as of 20 September 2020 until 31 December 2020.

DETAILS

2.On 6 July 2018, the US imposed an additional tariff of 25% on Mainland products worth approximately US$34 billion (List 1) 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, eight batches of products exclusions were granted by the USTR. The seventh batch of product exclusions was announced on 20 September 2019 and expired on 20 September 2020. For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular Nos. 701/2019 and 444/2020 of 19 September 2019 and 4 June 2020 respectively.

3.After a public comment process, the USTR issued on 16 September 2020 a notice to announce extension of certain seventh batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs, which will apply as of 20 September 2020 until 31 December 2020. The products include 62 specially prepared product descriptions, covering submersible centrifugal pumps; tabletop water fountains; thermal roll laminators; ionization filters; shovel loaders; animal feeding machinery and parts; ink cartridges; press brakes; tool holders for use on milling machine spindles; certain valve bodies; angular contact ball bearings; certain electric motors; dual layer printed circuit board assemblies; transceivers; certain switches; four-wheel off-road vehicles; works trucks; digital peak flow meters; anesthesia masks; certain parts and accessories for X-ray apparatus; automatic thermostats; battery balancers; thermostat covers; etc.

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 notices:

• FR notice on extension of certain seventh batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs (22 September 2020):
  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-22/pdf/2020-20828.pdf
• US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for extension of product exclusions under US$34 billion List (List 1) (28 September 2020):
  https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-2a3184d?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.