The WCO’s removal from its Harmonized System of six-digit subheadings for roll film cameras based on a low volume of trade means U.S. tariff provisions for cameras of heading 9006 are reorganized, though some of the provisions eliminated by the WCO remain in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule at the eight-digit level.
Customs duty
A customs duty is a tariff or tax which a country imposes on goods when they are transported across international borders. Customs Duties are used to protect countries' economies, residents, jobs, and environments, by limiting the flow of imported merchandise, especially restricted and prohibited goods, into the country. The Customs duty rate is a percentage determined by the value of the article purchased in the foreign country and not based on quality, size, or weight. U.S. customs duties are listed in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
The broadest set of changes to tariff classification in five years is set to take effect toward the end of January, as the latest set of amendments to the World Customs Organization's Harmonized System tariff nomenclature is implemented in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. Announced by a presidential proclamation published Dec. 28, the changes are slated to take effect 30 days after that, Jan. 27 (see 2112270032). This is the 10th part of International Trade Today's multipart summary, covering photographic apparatus, measuring and checking instruments, clocks and watches, manufactured articles and cultural articles of chapters 90-97.
The 2022 Harmonized Tariff Schedule includes a more detailed scheme for radioactive elements, other than uranium, plutonium and thorium. Subheading 2844.40.00 (which formerly covered radioactive elements and isotopes besides natural uranium of subheading 2844.10, enriched uranium and plutonium of subheading 2844.20 and depleted uranium and thorium of subheading 2844.30) and its associated 10-digit subheadings are replaced by a series of new subheadings covering the following (with the description of the 8-digit subheading remaining as superior text):
Subheading 3907.2 for “other polyethers” (i.e., other than polyacetals) is subdivided to create new subheading 3907.21.00 for bis(polyoxyethylene) methylphosphonate, as well as new subheading 3907.29.00 for “other” “other polyethers.”
Subheading 6802.10.00 for “tiles, cubes and similar articles” of stone is amended so it now covers such articles if “the largest face” can fit in a 7 cm square. Previously, the subheading had referred to “the largest surface area.”
“Flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, fit for human consumption” are now classifiable in new heading 0309. Previously, such flours, meals and pellets had been classifiable in the heading for the sea creature from which they were derived: 0305 for fish, 0306 for crustaceans, 0307 for molluscs and 0308 for other aquatic invertebrates.
Former subheading 5501.10, which covered synthetic fiber tow, of nylon or other polyamides, is deleted, and replaced by new separate subheadings 5501.11.00 for synthetic fiber tow of aramids, and subheading 5501.19.00 for “other” synthetic fiber tow of nylon or other polyamides. Both are dutiable at 7.5%.
Several notes to Chapter 84 see changes that result from the addition of new notes and the renumbering of existing ones. A new note 5 means current notes 5 through 8 are renumbered 6 through 9, and note 5(D) now refers to Note 5(C) instead of 6(C) as a result. A new note 10 is also added, and note 9 is renumbered 11. Note 2 to Chapter 84 now refers to note 11 of Chapter 84 rather than note 9, and its paragraphs are renumbered for clarity. Note 9(A), which has redesignated as 11(A), now refers to Notes 12(a) and 12(b). Subheading note 2 now refers to note 6(C) rather than 5(C). Heading 8486 and subheading 8486.40.00, which previously referenced note 9(C), now reference note 11(C).
The broadest set of changes to tariff classification in five years is set to take effect toward the end of January, as the latest set of amendments to the World Customs Organization's Harmonized System tariff nomenclature is implemented in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. Announced by a presidential proclamation published Dec. 28, the changes are slated to take effect 30 days after that, Jan. 27 (see 2112270032). This is the eighth part of International Trade Today's multipart summary, covering electrical machinery of Chapter 85 and vehicles, aircraft and vessels of chapters 87-89.
Six Democratic and two Republican senators are asking President Joe Biden to overrule the International Trade Commission and allow the safeguard tariffs on solar panels and cells to lapse in February, as they were originally scheduled to do. Three Republican and two Democratic senators are asking the president to retain the tariffs for another four years, and to restore tariffs on bifacial solar panels, which were collected for about a year, until the Court of International Trade said applying tariffs to bifacial solar panels after they were originally excluded was unlawful. That decision, from November (see 2111160032), is being appealed.