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. 710/2020

US : Section 301 Tariffs on Mainland Products Worth US$16 billion - Extension of Certain Second 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 second batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs imposed on Mainland products worth about US$16 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 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 second 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. 702/2019 and 488/2020 of 19 September 2019 and 26 June 2020 respectively.

3.After a public comment process, the USTR issued a notice to announce extension of certain second batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs, which will apply as of 20 September 2020 until 31 December 2020. The products include 17 specially prepared product descriptions, covering certain chemicals; molded acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) tubes; electrical tape; transparent tape; rolls of polyethylene film; rolls of polyvinyl chloride; films coated on one or both sides with polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH); printed film of polyvinyl chloride; sheets and strips consisting of both cross-linked polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate; polyethylene sheet and film; girders; pipes; posts of steel pipe and tube; rib nodes; monopolar conductors; and motorcycles with electric power for propulsion.

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 second batch product exclusions from 25% tariffs (22 September 2020):
  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-22/pdf/2020-20829.pdf
• US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for extension of product exclusions under US$16 billion List (List 2) (24 September 2020):
  https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-2a268f9?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.