In the Dec. 11 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 53, No. 45), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment for rigid plastic coolers and multiple types of chemical compounds.
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.
CBP posted information about how industry and government agencies can request that the 484(f) Committee make changes to units of quantity in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. Proposals for changing an HTSUS statistical suffix UOQ must be submitted to 484f@usitc.gov by March 15, 2020, for the consideration at the spring meeting, and by July 15, 2020, for the fall meeting. Any changes would take effect on Jan. 1 in the following year, it said. “For the 484(f) Committee to consider a UOQ change request, the group or individual submitting the proposal is required to demonstrate that the replacement UOQ being proposed is better aligned with the entire industry’s measurement standards than the one that is currently listed in the HTSUS,” it said.
CBP decided not to go forward with its proposed ruling revocation on garments with 50/50 blends of fiber (see 1904050037), the agency said in its Dec. 11 Customs Bulletin (Vol 53, No. 45). CBP's proposal involved garments made with 50/50 fiber blends and the basis for classifying such garments. “Upon reconsideration of the matter, CBP has determined that no revocation is appropriate. Accordingly, we have determined that the tariff classification of the garments under consideration in the rulings at issue in the April 3, 2019 Customs Bulletin Notice will remain as determined in those rulings.”
A group of domestic manufacturers filed petitions on Dec. 18 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duty investigations on fluid end bocks from Germany, India and Italy, and new countervailing duties on the same product from China, Germany, India and Italy. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on fluid end blocks that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The petition was filed by the FEB Fair Trade Coalition, the Ellwood Group, and Finkl Steel.
A coalition of domestic manufacturers filed a petition on Dec. 17 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on fourth tier cigarettes from South Korea. Commerce will now decide whether to begin an AD duty investigation. The investigation was requested by Coalition Against Korean Cigarettes.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1920 on Dec. 19, containing 40,715 Automated Broker Interface records and 7,393 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update includes recently announced exclusions and other changes related to the Section 301 tariffs (see 1912060031 and 1912130028). Other changes involve units of quantities and the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S.
The Commerce Department set the 12-month 2020 value-added tariff preference level for certain apparel imported directly from Haiti (Harmonized Tariff Schedule 9820.61.25 for entry-specific claims or 9820.61.30 for aggregate claims) eligible to receive duty-free treatment under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for Encouragement Act (HOPE). For the one-year period beginning on Dec. 20, 2019, and extending through Dec. 19, 2020, the recalculated quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under the value-added TPL is 376,935,586 square meters equivalent (SME), an increase of about 4 million SME over 2018 levels. Apparel articles entered in excess of this TPL will be subject to otherwise applicable duty rates.
CBP is issuing a “blanket” authorization to allow the release of most types of merchandise on or after Dec. 17 through Dec. 31 under Immediate Delivery (ID) procedures, it said in a CSMS message. Many entry filers make regular use of ID procedures for fresh fruits and vegetables and other merchandise from Mexico and Canada, etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is making some changes to “certain notes in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States” related to the second tranche of Section 301 tariffs, it said in a notice. “To correct technical and ministerial errors and in order to conform to the U.S. Trade Representative’s intent to grant certain exclusions, the Annex to this notice includes amendments to certain notes in the HTSUS,” it said.
The International Trade Commission issued Revision 19 to the 2019 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The latest update is to add the latest round of exemptions from tranche 3 Section 301 tariffs on products from China, published by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Nov. 29 (see 1911260056). The exclusions are described in new U.S. Note 20(nn) to subchapter III of chapter 99, and are classifiable in new subheading 9903.88.35. The ITC also made conforming changes to other tariff schedule provisions on Section 301 tariffs. The exclusions take effect retroactive to Sept. 24, 2018, when the third tranche of tariffs first came into force.