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

5 February 2020
(Last updated on 18 January 2021)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Commercial Information Circular No. 89/2020

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

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced on 31 January 2020 the eighth 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 5 February 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 seven batches of excluded products from August to December 2019. For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular nos. 594/2019, 703/2019, 771/2019, 811/2019, 858/2019, 900/2019 and 12/2020 dated 5 August 2019, 19 September 2019, 24 October 2019, 8 November 2019, 27 November 2019, 13 December 2019 and 3 January 2020 respectively.

3. The USTR announced on 31 January 2020 the eighth batch of products to be excluded from the additional tariffs. The products include two existing 10-digit HTSUS subheadings 8425.31.0100 and 8708.93.7500 covering winches and capstans (powered by electric motor) and parts and accessories of certain motor vehicles (clutches and parts thereof); as well as 117 specially prepared product descriptions, covering Alaskan sole; slipper lobster meat; crab meat; synthetic silica gel; fertilizer; laundry detergent powder; supported catalysts; floor coverings of polymers of vinyl chloride; seamless disposable gloves of natural rubber latex; paper and paperboard printed labels; drinking straws of paper; dyed sateen fabric containing artificial staple fibers; rugs of 100 percent polyester or polypropylene; fabrics of 100 percent polyester, silicone coated; rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles; cable hooks of steel; awning stabilizer kits; hand-operated pumps; sewing machines; faucets of copper; pressure regulating valves of brass; solar-powered battery chargers; printed circuit boards; cup holder assemblies; bicycles; electrical levels; parts of seats; steel lockers; electric household floor-standing lamps; flexible strips; etc. On 26 March 2020, the USTR fully excluded individually frozen fillets of sole and flounder under HTS subheadings 0304.83.5015 and 0304.83.5020 respectively.

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 eighth batch of products excluded from Section 301 tariffs (5 February 2020) and subsequent amendments (28 May 2020, 15 July 2020, 24 August 2020 and 15 January 2021):
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-02-05/pdf/2020-02225.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
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-08-24/pdf/2020-18517.pdf
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-15/pdf/2021-00865.pdf
  • Additional product exclusions announced on 26 March 2020:
    https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-03-26/pdf/2020-06276.pdf
  • US Customs and Border Protection's guidance note on filing entries for products excluded from Section 301 Tariffs (List 3) (28 February 2020):
    https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-27e58fd?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.