The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on glycine from India (A-533-883), Japan (A-588-878) and Thailand (A-549-837), and its recently initiated countervailing duty investigations on glycine from India (C-533-884), China (C-570-081) and Thailand (C-549-838).
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.
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on steel wheels from China (A-570-082/C-570-083). The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017. The AD duty investigation covers entries July 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP is seeking comments by June 18 on an existing information collection related to the entry/immediate delivery applications and ACE cargo release, it said in a notice. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with minor changes to the information collected related to safeguard duties on washing machines and solar cells and Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products, as well as an increase of the estimated burden hours associated with the collection.
TVs imported from China could bear an especially heavy burden under the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s list of products targeted for 25 percent tariffs under the Trump administration's Section 301 investigation (see 1804040019). “This is a big impact on TV,” Bob O’Brien, president of Display Supply Chain Consultants, said in an interview. All products classified in Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 8528.72.64 would be prone to tariffs, “which is basically all TVs” imported from China, he said. He estimates 18.8 million TVs with a value of $3.9 billion were imported from China in 2017 under that classification. “This would have a huge impact on the TV supply chain.”
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
A proposed new 25 percent tariff on imports from China appears to hit machinery, metals and trucks hard, with additional effects on pharmaceuticals, medical devices and optical equipment, according to a list of proposed tariff subheadings released by the U.S. Trade Representative on April 3 (see 1804030055). Other affected products include antifreeze, rubber tires and tubes, televisions, optical instruments and weapons. Comments on the list are due May 11.
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on laminated woven sacks from Vietnam (A-552-823/C-552-824). The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017. The AD duty investigation covers entries July 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1804 on March 29, containing 710 Automated Broker Interface records and 166 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include updates to partner government agency (PGA) indicators, as well as additional changes required under presidential proclamations instituting new tariffs on steel and aluminum (see 1803080025), CBP said. "The KG unit of measure was removed from 99038001 and 99038501. Adjustments required by the verification of the 2018 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) are included also," CBP said.
Two U.S. manufacturers are seeking the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on steel wheels from China, they said in a petition filed March 27 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The petition, filed by Accuride Corporation and Maxion Wheels Akron, represents a second attempt at AD/CV duty orders on Chinese steel wheels, after a 2011 request ended in an ITC finding of no injury to U.S. industry (see 12041806).