ITC Issues Revision 1 to 2015 HTS; Most Changes Take Effect July 1
The International Trade Commission on July 1 published Revision 1 to the 2015 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The latest edition of the HTS makes only technical corrections and changes to statistical suffixes, said the ITC. Among other new statistical suffixes, the ITC added new breakouts for wheat, artificial turf, electric car batteries and boltless steel shelving. Highlights of changes in Revision 1 of the 2015 HTS are as follows:
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(Effective dates for all changes are July 1, unless otherwise noted.)
Myanmar country ISO code. The country ISO code for Myanmar (Burma) listed in Statistical Annex B to the HTS is changed from MM to BU.
Wheat. For non-seed, non-organic durum wheat under subheading 1001.19.00, the ITC is removing statistical breakouts related to dark hard vitreous kernel content. The agency eliminated tariff numbers that previously broke out grades 1 and 2 durum wheat based on whether the wheat has a “specified dark hard vitreous kernel content” exceeding or not exceeding 84 percent. In their place, the ITC is inserting tariff numbers that simply break non-seed, non-organic durum wheat into grade 1 and grade 2.
Similarly, the ITC is simplifying statistical breakouts for non-seed red spring wheat, other than Canadian western extra strong hard red spring wheat, under subheading 1001.99.00. The commission eliminated statistical suffixes that broke grades 1 and 2 red spring wheat into six categories based on protein content by weight (<12.9%, 12.9-13.3%, 13.3-13.6%, 13.6%-13.9%, 13.9%-14.2%), and replaced them with only three statistical suffixes for protein content (<12.9%, 12.9-13.9%, >13.9%).
Organic chemical statistical corrections. The ITC is removing “00” statistical suffixes for two subheadings in chapter 29. Subheadings 2903.76.00 for bromochlorodifluoromethane, bromotrifluoromethane and dibromotetrafluoroethanes and 2937.90.00 for catecholamine hormones are both further subdivided into more specific statistical suffixes, and therefore should not have a general “00” suffix. The change to subheading 2903.76.00 took effect July 1, while the change to subheading 2937.90.00 took effect Feb. 3, 2012.
Artificial turf. A new statistical breakout is being added for “synthetic or artificial turf, in rolls of a width equal to or exceeding 1.0 meter, or in sheets measuring 1.0 meter or greater on any side (665)” under subheading 5703.30.80 (carpets and other floor coverings: of other man-made materials: other: other).
Extension cords. The ITC is amending Statistical Note 6 to Chapter 85 remove a requirement that extension cords under subheading 8544.42.9010 must be “rated at 120 V with a maximum of 20 A.”
Electric car batteries. A new statistical breakout for lithium-ion batteries “of a kind used as the primary source of electrical power for electrically powered vehicles of subheading 8703.90” is added to subheading 8507.60.00.
Boltless steel shelving. New statistical suffix 9403.20.0025 is added under “other metal furniture” for “boltless or press-fit steel shelving units prepackaged for sale as described in statistical note 3 to this chapter.” New statistical note three says the statistical suffix “refers to steel shelving in which the steel vertical and horizontal supports lock together to form the frame for the shelving unit and are assembled primarily without the use of nuts and bolts or screws. Boltless steel shelving includes rivet shelving, welded frame shelving, slot and tab shelving, and punched rivet (quasi-rivet) shelving but does not include wall-mounted shelving or wire shelving units in which a wire deck and wire horizontal supports are integrated into a single piece.”
Tea imported for further manufacturing. The ITC is adding footnotes to clarify that subheading 9814.00.50 for tea imported for chemical (including caffeine) manufacturing, as well as U.S. Note 1 to Subchapter XIV of Chapter 98 regarding such tea, is a carryover from the old Tariff Schedule of the United States, and that the underlying law was repealed in 1996. These changes take retroactive effect on April 9, 1996.
HOPE duty-free textiles. The ITC is adding subheadings 5703.30.8060 and 5703.30.8085 to the list of made-up textile articles wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti from Dominican components, that can enter the U.S. duty free. It is also removing subheading 5703.30.8080 from the list.