The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on steel racks from China (A-570-088/C-570-089). The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017. The AD duty investigation covers entries Oct. 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is a reference manual that provides duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but the Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.
An "adaptive clothing" line meant “to offer branded fashionable clothing to the underserved community of the differently-abled consumer" doesn't meet the requirements for duty-free treatment under tariff subheading 9817.00.96, CBP said in a June 29 ruling. That subheading is reserved for "articles specially designed or adapted for the use or benefit of the blind or other physically or mentally handicapped persons.” The ruling request came from PVH, which owns the Tommy Hilfiger brand.
The International Trade Commission recently posted Revision 7 to the 2018 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Coming just days after the ITC’s mid-year HTS update, the new edition adds provisions implementing a 25% Section 301 tariff on $34 billion in imports from China that took effect July 6. It also reflects the restoration of African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits for Eswatini, and the country’s renaming from Swaziland.
In the July 5 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 52, No. 27), CBP published notices that propose to modify rulings and similar treatment for mine personnel carriers and decorative nutcrackers..
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s list of proposed tariff subheadings set for an additional 10 percent tariff on $200 billion in imports from China covers wide swaths of the tariff schedule that initially avoided Section 301 tariffs imposed July 6. While the 25 percent tariff already in place affects only goods of Chapters 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 and 90 (with a few exceptions), USTR’s proposed list of additional subheadings includes products from nearly all sectors of the tariff schedule, with the notable exceptions of footwear and apparel and pharmaceuticals.
Tech interests will debate the ripple-effect consumer harms that may result from the Trump administration’s newest proposals to impose 10 percent Section 301 tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. But the list of goods targeted for the 10 percent duties, released July 10 in an Office of the U.S. Trade Representative notice, doesn't include meaningful end-user consumer tech products like TVs.
The Commerce Department issued its final affirmative countervailing duty determination on cast iron soil pipe fittings from China (C-570-063). Suspension of liquidation is currently not in effect for entries on or after April 18, and Commerce will only require cash deposits of estimated CV duties on future entries if it issues a CV duty order.
The Consumer Technology Association, the National Retail Federation and the Semiconductor Industry Association are among groups and companies requesting to appear at a July 24 Office of the U.S. Trade Representative hearing about the Section 301 tariffs on a second list of 284 lines of Chinese-sourced products proposed for the higher duties (see 1806210029). The Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones are also among the commenters in docket USTR-2018-0018. Written comments are due July 23, and post-hearing rebuttal comments, July 31.
CBP will flag two more Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes in ACE at the request of the National Marine Fisheries Service, CBP said in a CSMS message. The codes -- 0304.49.0190 (Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen (90 = Other)) and 0304.87.0000 (Tunas, non-specific fillet frozen (of the genus Thunnus), skipjack or stripe-bellied bonito (Euthynnus or Katsuwonus pelamis)) -- will be flagged as NM5, it said. That flag means that specific Highly Migratory Species information may be required by NMFS. "Because these codes are 'general' in their description, a disclaimer will be allowed for the HMS program for the NM5 flag if the codes are being used for product that is not fresh Bluefin tuna (or is not other product that is covered the NMFS HMS program, primarily Bluefin tuna or swordfish)," CBP said.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of June 25 - July 1: