The International Trade Commission recently released Revision 12 to the 2019 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Changes in the latest version relate entirely to the imposition of 15 percent Section 301 tariffs on products from China, effective Sept. 1. New U.S. Note 20(r) and U.S. Note 20(s) are added to subchapter III of chapter 99 describing the applicable tariff treatment and HTS subheadings covered by the new tariffs, respectively. New subheading 9903.88.15 is added for goods subject to the new List 4 tariffs.
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 created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1915 on Sept. 3, containing 64 Automated Broker Interface records and 12 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update includes adjustments required by the fourth tranche Section 301 tariffs. Modifications required by the verification of the 2019 HTS and to support Partner Government Agency message set functionality are included as well.
CBP issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:
The Commerce Department issued a notice in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on polyethylene terephthalate sheet from South Korea (A-580-903), Mexico (A-201-852) and Oman (A-523-813).
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1914 on Aug. 13, containing 531 Automated Broker Interface records and 94 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update includes adjustments required by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's announcement of two new sets of exemptions from Section 301 tariffs on China (see 1907290023 and 1908080019). Modifications required by the verification of the 2019 HTS and to support Partner Government Agency message set functionality are included as well.
Of the 140 Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings that the Consumer Technology Association urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in its June 17 comments to remove from List 4 Section 301 tariff exposure, the association won 37 deferrals to Dec. 15 in key product areas like smartphones, laptops and tablets and PC monitors when the final lists were released Aug. 13 (see 1908130033). The remaining subheadings face 10 percent tariff exposure when the duties on the newly configured List 4A take effect Sept. 1.
CBP is issuing a notice formally announcing the beginning of a pilot to test a new type of informal entry in ACE for low-value shipments. New entry type 86 will allow importers of goods valued under the $800 de minimis level to file a less complex entry, including for goods subject to partner government agency (PGA) requirements, “and will expedite the clearance of compliant Section 321 low-valued shipments,” CBP said. The test will begin “no earlier than,” Sept. 28.
CBP added the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with the first group of excluded goods from the third tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Aug. 8, it said in a CSMS message. Filers of imported products that were granted an exclusion (see 1908050010) should report the regular Chapters 39, 54, 56, 73, 87 and 89 Harmonized Tariff Schedule number, as well as subheading 9903.88.13, for products subject to Section 301 duties on products from China but that have been granted an exclusion by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTS number for the Section 301 duties when HTS 9903.88.13 is submitted,” CBP said.
The International Trade Commission in recent days posted Revision 11 to the 2019 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. All changes relate to implementation of the first group of exclusions from tranche three of Section 301 tariffs on products from China (see 1908050010). That includes the creation of new tariff subheading 9903.88.13 for products filed under the new exclusions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture revised the appendices to its Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation for the 2019 tariff-rate quota year, in a notice. USDA is making the changes to reflect the cumulative annual transfers from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2 for certain dairy product import licenses permanently surrendered by licensees or revoked by the Foreign Agricultural Service.