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USTR Issues New Product Exclusions for Section 301 Tariffs

December 13, 2019 by Tim Warren|Top News

The Office of the U.S Trade Representative issued some new product exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on the third list of products from China, according to a pre-publication copy of a notice posted to the agency’s website Dec. 12 (see 1912130015). The product exclusions apply retroactively to Sept. 24, 2018, the date the tariffs on the third list took effect, and will remain in effect until Aug. 7, 2020. New subheading 9903.88.36 will be used for these products.

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The agency also issued a new exclusion to the first tranche of Section 301 tariffs for subheading 9030.90.4600 that will apply from July 6, 2018, though Oct. 1, 2020. That subheading covers parts and accessories for articles of subheading 9030.10 (instruments and apparatus for measuring or detecting ionizing radiations), other than printed circuit assemblies.

The tranche three exclusions “are reflected in 9 ten-digit HTSUS subheadings and 35 specially prepared product descriptions, which cover 75 separate exclusion requests,” it said. The subheadings are:

  • 0304.72.5000
  • 0304.83.1015
  • 0304.83.1020
  • 0304.83.5090
  • 8507.20.4000
  • 8708.50.8500
  • 8708.94.7510
  • 8708.99.8105
  • 8712.00.1520.

The product descriptions are:

  • Bananas, freeze-dried and sliced, put up for retail sale in packages each having a net weight of 15 g (described in statistical reporting number 0803.90.0045)
  • Apples, freeze-dried and sliced, put up for retail sale in packages each having a net weight of 15 g (described in statistical reporting number 0813.30.0000)
  • Peaches, freeze-dried and sliced, put up for retail sale in packages each having a net weight of 15 g (described in statistical reporting number 0813.40.4000)
  • Pears, freeze-dried and sliced, put up for retail sale in packages each having a net weight of 15 g (described in statistical reporting number 0813.40.9000)
  • Mixtures of strawberries and bananas, freeze-dried and sliced, put up for retail sale in packages each having a net weight of 15 g (described in statistical reporting number 0813.50.0020)
  • Mixed seasoning of Himalayan salt, tomato flake, lemon peel, basil, black pepper and sage, put up for retail sale in packages each weighing 200 g (described in statistical reporting number 2103.90.8000)
  • Molded blocks of wood pulp cellulose sponge, each measuring not over 105 cm by 105 cm by 40 cm (described in statistical reporting number 4823.70.0040) 17) Satin woven fabrics of artificial filament yarn, consisting of 63 percent rayon and 37 percent combed cotton, dyed, weighing not over 211 g/m2 (described in statistical reporting number 5408.32.9050)
  • Nonwoven rug pads, each comprising a 100 percent polyester fiber fabric, face laminated to a thermoplastic elastomer and weighing over 150 g/m2 (described in statistical reporting number 5603.94.1090)
  • Ropes of man-made fibers, each measuring 1.7 m or more but not over 6.1 m in length with breaking strength of 22 kg or more but not over 230 kg, with hooks of base metal and locking mechanisms to maintain tension on the rope (described in statistical reporting number 5609.00.3000)
  • Gates for confining children or pets, of steel not coated or plated with precious metals (described in statistical reporting number 7323.99.9040)
  • Steel electrical boxes, designed for lighting fixtures, switches, receptacles or outlet devices, such boxes weighing 0.4 kg or more but not over 3.5 kg, 10.2 cm in length or more, 5 cm or more but not over 10.2 cm in width and 12 cm in height, the foregoing UL listed (described in statistical reporting number 7326.90.8688)
  • Telescoping multi-position ladders of aluminum, each with maximum reach height of 4.2 m or more but not over 7.9 m, with locks to adjust the telescoping positions and with load rating of 136 kg or more but not over 170 kg (described in statistical reporting number 7616.99.5130)
  • Towers of aluminum, unassembled, each designed to be mounted on a boat, incorporating at least one point to which a tow rope may be fastened for towing individuals participating in water sports such as wakeboarding, the assembled tower measuring not over 1.9 m in height and no more than 2.5 m in width (described in statistical reporting number 8302.49.6055)
  • Towers of aluminum, unassembled, each designed to be mounted on the body of a boat, incorporating a tow point for towing individuals participating in water sports such as wakeboarding, the assembled tower measuring not over 1.6 m in height and not over 2.5 m in width (described in statistical reporting number 8302.49.6055)
  • Digital electronic scales, not for personal use, not for continuous weighing, other than constant-weight scales, each measuring no more than 195 mm by 165 mm by 60 mm, having a maximum weight capacity of 5 kg, and having the ability to reset tare (zero point reset) multiple times while adding to the article being weighed (described in statistical reporting number 8423.81.0040)
  • Electronic calculators for desktop use, solar-powered with battery backup (other than with engineering, trigonometric, scientific or construction functions), each measuring 11 cm or more but not over 25 cm in length, 7 cm or more but not over 19.5 cm in width, and 1 cm or more but not over 5 cm in height and weighing 0.058 kg or more but not over 0.34 kg (described in statistical reporting number 8470.10.0040)
  • Electronic calculators, handheld, solar-powered or battery powered (other than with engineering, trigonometric or scientific functions), each measuring 10 cm or more but not over 16 cm in length, 5 cm or more but not over 9 cm in width, and 0.5 cm or more but not over 2 cm in height and weighing 0.02 kg or more but not over 1 kg (described in statistical reporting number 8470.10.0040)
  • Electronic calculators, handheld, solar-powered or battery powered, with scientific, trigonometric or other advanced mathematical functions, each measuring 11 cm or more but not over 18 cm in length, 6.5 cm or more but not over 9 cm in width and 1 cm or more but not over 3 cm in height and weighing 0.04 kg or more but not over 0.25 kg (described in statistical reporting number 8470.10.0040)
  • Electronic calculating machines, each incorporating a 2 color ink roller printing device, that operates with an external source of power, with a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), measuring 24 cm or more but not over 27 cm in length, 18 cm or more but not over 21 cm in width and 5 cm or more but not over 7 cm in height and weighing 0.5 kg or more but not over 1.5 kg each (described in statistical reporting number 8470.21.0000)
  • Electronic calculating machines, each incorporating a parallel ribbon ink printing device, that operates with an external source of power, with a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), measuring 31.75 cm or more but not over 34.3 cm in length, 21.5 cm or more but not over 25.4 cm in width and 7.5 cm or more but not over 9 cm in height and weighing 1.6 kg or more but not over 2 kg each (described in statistical reporting number 8470.21.0000)
  • Electronic calculating machines, each incorporating a ribbon ink printing device, that operates with an external source of power, with a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), measuring 32 cm or more but not over 35 cm in length, 22 cm or more but not over 26 cm in width and 8 cm or more but not over 9 cm in height and weighing 1.75 kg or more but not over 2 kg each (described in statistical reporting number 8470.21.0000)
  • Electronic calculating machines, each incorporating an ink roller printing device, capable of operating with an external source of power or battery power, with liquid crystal display (LCD), measuring 19 cm or more but not over 26.5 cm in length, 8 cm or more but not over 20 cm in width and 4 cm or more but not over 7 cm in height and weighing 0.3 kg or more but not over 0.7 kg each (described in statistical reporting number 8470.21.0000)
  • Other static converters, rectifiers and rectifying apparatus, with ABS plastic damage resistant box, input and output voltage cables, weighing not more than 0.35 kg, measuring not more than 17 cm in length and 12 cm in width (described in statistical reporting number 8504.40.9550)
  • Light-emitting diode (LED) headlights, light bars and cube lights, of a kind designed to be mounted on off-road, all-terrain vehicles (described in statistical reporting number 8512.20.2040)
  • Brake drums of grey cast iron for the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705 (other than tractors for agricultural purposes), with an inside diameter of 38 cm or more but not over 42 cm (described in statistical reporting number 8708.30.5020)
  • Brake discs of grey cast iron for the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705 (other than tractors for agricultural purposes), with an outside diameter of 32 cm or more but not over 44 cm (described in statistical reporting number 8708.30.5030)
  • Wheel hubs of cast iron, for off-road vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705, each weighing 2 kg or more but not exceeding 4 kg (described in statistical reporting number 8708.99.5300)
  • Upholstered dining chairs, with a wooden frame, other than of teak (described in statistical reporting number 9401.61.4011)
  • Chairs with three legs, with frames of steel held together by elastic cord and textile seating material, for outdoor non-household use (described in statistical reporting number 9401.79.0015)
  • Chairs, each with four legs, a frame of aluminum held together by elastic cord and textile seating material, for outdoor non-household use (described in statistical reporting number 9401.79.0015)
  • Entry tables of wood other than bent-wood, each measuring 180 cm or more but not over 185 cm in length, 80 cm or more but not over 83 cm in height and over 40 but not over 45 cm in width, with tin top (described in statistical reporting number 9403.60.8081)
  • 8-light circular electric household chandeliers, of base metal other than brass (described in statistical reporting number 9405.10.6010)
  • Electric household table lamps, with bases of wood, presented with shades, not more than 64 cm in height, each weighing not more than 3 kg (described in statistical reporting number 9405.20.8010) 44) Non-electrical wall candelabras, of wood, each with 3 wrought iron candle holders (described in statistical reporting number 9405.50.4000)
  • Non-electrical wall candelabras, of wood, each with 3 wrought iron candle holders (described in statistical reporting number 9405.50.4000).