ITC Issues Semi-Annual Revision to 2018 HTS; Changes Take Effect July 1

Life Sciences Trade Alert is also republishing its table of the tariff reductions that take effect July 1 under the Information Technology Agreement (see 1806290068).

Archaeological, Ethnographic and Other Collectors' Pieces

Tariff classification provisions for collectors’ pieces under heading 9705 are overhauled in Revision 6 of the 2018 HTS to add more specificity and clarity. A former subheading that grouped archaeological and ethnographic pieces is removed, and added in its place are individual subheadings for archaeological pieces described in statistical note 1 to chapter 97 (9705.00.0075) and ethnological pieces described in statistical note 1 to chapter 97 (9705.00.0080). Statistical note 1 more clearly defines articles classifiable in these subheadings as follows:

"For the purposes of statistical reporting number 9705.00.0075, 'Archaeological pieces' are objects of cultural significance that are at least 250 years old and are of a kind normally discovered as a result of scientific excavation, clandestine or accidental digging or exploration on land or under water. For the purposes of statistical reporting number 9705.00.0080, 'Ethnographic pieces', which may also be called 'ethnological pieces,' are objects that are the product of a tribal or nonindustrial society and are important to the cultural heritage of a people because of their distinctive characteristics, comparative rarity or their contribution to the knowledge of the origins, development or history of that people. See Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Informed Compliance Publication on 'Works of Art, Collector's Pieces, Antiques, and Other Cultural Property.'"

Subheading 9705.00.0091, which previously covered “other” (i.e., not numismatic, archaeological or ethnographic pieces), is renumbered to 9705.00.0085, and now refers to “zoological, botanical, mineralogical, anatomical, historical and paleontological pieces.”

New Provisions Added on Solar Cells

New tariff provisions are added to the tariff schedule for solar cells that are apparently intended to track merchandise subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and solar products. New subheadings are added to heading 8541 for crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells. New statistical note 11 to chapter 85 is added, defining products classifiable in the new subheadings similarly to the scope of AD/CV duties currently in place, as follows:

“For the purposes of statistical reporting numbers 8541.40.6015 and 8541.40.6025, the term 'crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells' means crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells of a thickness equal to or greater than 20 micrometers, having a p/n junction (or variant thereof) formed by any means, whether or not the cell imported under statistical reporting number 8541.40.6025 (or subassemblies thereof imported under statistical reporting number 8541.40.6015) has undergone other processing, including, but not limited to, cleaning, etching, coating, and/or addition of materials (including, but not limited to, metallization and conductor patterns) to collect and forward the electricity that is generated by the cell. Such cells include photovoltaic cells that contain crystalline silicon in addition to other photovoltaic materials. This includes, but is not limited to, passivated emitter rear contact cells, heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer cells, and other so-called hybrid cells.”

Tariff provisions that formerly covered solar cells are now subdivided into subheadings 8541.40.6015 and 8541.40.6025 for crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells described by the new statistical note 11, assembled into panels or otherwise, respectively. New subheadings 8541.40.6035 and 8541.40.6045 cover other solar cells, not described by statistical note 11, assembled into panels or otherwise, respectively.

Statistical note 10, which relates to Section 201 safeguard duties on solar cells and modules, is amended to reflect the addition of the new tariff numbers.

Other Statistical Reporting Changes

The July 1 update to the HTS also includes a series of changes to 10-digit statistical suffixes throughout the tariff schedule. Updated provisions affect classification of cuts of beef, organic grains, jadeite and rubies, iron and steel bars and rods, and paint roller frames, among other things. The full set of changes is as follows:

Organic squash. Subheading 0709.93.20 is subdivided into new statistical breakout 0709.93.2010 for certified organic squash, and new 0709.93.2050 for other squash.

Organic blueberries. Old subheading 0811.90.2028 for cultivated (including highbush) blueberries is divided into new statistical breakouts 0811.90.2030 for organic cultivated blueberries, and 0811.90.2040 for other cultivated blueberries.

Organic frozen apple juice. Old subheading 2009.79.0010 for frozen apple juice is divided into new statistical breakouts 2009.79.0015 for certified organic frozen apple juice, and 2009.79.0017 for other frozen apple juice.

Raspberries. Subheadings for fresh raspberries entered during the period Sept. 1 - June 30, and other fresh raspberries (i.e., entered July 1 - Aug. 31), are subdivided to create new statistical breakouts for raspberries packed in units weighing not more 5 kg under tariff numbers 0810.20.1022 and 0810.20.9022, respectively. Raspberries packed in units over 5 g are now classifiable in new statistical breakouts 0810.20.1024 and 0810.20.9024, depending on when they were entered. Old statistical breakouts 0810.20.1020 and 0810.20.9020 for raspberries are now defunct.

Residues. Tariff provisions under subheading 2620.99.75 for “other” residues not advanced in value or condition, not bearing vanadium, are reorganized so that 2620.99.7560 clearly covers residues containing silver, and 2620.99.7580 clearly covers residues containing gold. Previously a formatting issue had been creating confusion. New subheading 2620.99.7590 covers other such residues, not containing gold, silver or vanadium.

Methanol. Former subheading 2905.11.2000 for methanol (methyl alcohol), not imported for use as a fuel or to make synthetic natural gas, is further subdivided into new provisions based on use. New statistical breakout 2905.11.2010 covers methanol imported for use in chemical production, including production of aldehydes, plastics, olefins and resins; new statistical breakout 2905.11.2015 covers methanol imported for use in wastewater treatment; and new statistical breakout 2095.11.2085 covers other methanol.

Plastic drainage system parts. New statistical suffix 3926.90.9940 for plastic “covers, rings and frames for manholes; catch basins; drainage gates and frames thereof; cleanout covers and frames thereof; valve, service and meter boxes” is added under provisions for “other” plastics. Subheading 3926.90.9996 for “other” plastics not falling elsewhere in the chapter is renumbered 3926.90.9990.

Plywood of tropical woods. Subheading 4412.31.4150 for plywood with at least one outer ply of certain tropical woods, not surface covered and not with a face ply of birch, Spanish cedar or walnut, is subdivided into statistical breakouts for panels not exceeding 1.2 m in width and 2.2 m in length (4412.31.4150) and other panels (4412.31.4155).

Molded or pressed paper plates, bowls or cups. Subheading 4823.70.00 for molded or pressed articles of paper pulp is divided into statistical breakouts for plates, bowls or cups (4823.70.0020) and other molded or pressed articles of paper pulp (4823.70.0040).

Mirrors with lighting. New tariff provisions are created for mirrors containing LED or fluorescent lighting. Subheadings covering unframed glass mirrors not over 929 square cm in reflecting area (7009.91.10) and over 929 square cm in reflecting area (7009.91.50) are subdivided into statistical suffixes for mirrors containing LED or fluorescent lighting (7009.91.1010 and 7009.91.5010, respectively), and other unframed mirrors (7009.91.1090 and 7009.91.5090, respectively). Likewise, provisions for framed glass mirrors not over 929 square cm in reflecting area (7009.92.10) and over 929 square cm in reflecting area (7009.92.50) are subdivided into statistical suffixes for mirrors containing LED or fluorescent lighting (7009.92.1010 and 7009.92.5010, respectively), and other unframed mirrors (7009.92.1090 and 7009.92.5090, respectively).

Impeller covers and subs. New subheading 8414.90.4180 is added for impeller covers and hubs used as parts of compressors. Subheading 8414.90.4175 for “other” parts of compressors is renumbered 8414.90.4190.

Molds for pipe casting. New subheading 8480.49.0010 is added for molds for centrifugal casting of ductile iron pipe. Other (i.e., not injection or compression) molds for metal or metal carbides are now classifiable in renumbered subheading 8480.49.0090.

Forged gear blanks. New subheading 8483.90.5010 is added for forged gear blanks. “Other” parts of gearing, gear boxes and other speed changers are now classifiable in renumbered subheading 8483.90.5090.

Major Schedule B Update Re-Added to Tariff Schedule

Revision 6 to the 2018 HTS appears to have major changes in its "Notice to Exporters" to Schedule B numbers. Those changes in fact already appeared in the 2018 Basic Edition of the HTS, issued Jan. 1, before disappearing from subsequent revisions to the HTS beginning in February. The ITC is currently looking into why this is the case, and there may be an issue with how the information is posted on the ITC website, an ITC spokeswoman said. For the time being, questions on how to report export shipments may be referred to the CBP or to the Census Bureau, the spokeswoman said.

New Schedule B numbers (that also appeared in the ITC's Jan. 1 update) are as follows:

The new Notice to Exporters also eliminates the following Schedule B numbers (which had also been removed from the Jan. 1 Basic Edition):

Technical Corrections

Subheading 3204.19.3000 for sulfur black (Colour Index Nos. 53185, 53190 and 53195) is corrected to reflect the correct column 2 rate of duty (6.8¢/kg + 28%).