There are no plans to automatically extend Section 301 tariff exclusions, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in answers to written questions from senators on the Finance Committee and members of the House Ways and Means Committee. When he was asked repeatedly by members of Congress if the exclusions would be extended automatically to help small businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 recession, he said no and that “USTR has not decided whether to possibly extend again the exclusions extended until the end of 2020.” Lighthizer testified at the hearings in June (see 2006180029 and 2006170008).
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.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from July 27-31 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
CBP will add the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with recently excluded goods in the fourth tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Aug. 6, it said in a CSMS message. The official Office of the U.S. Trade Representative notice for the exclusions was published July 23 (see 2007210026). The exclusions are in subheading 9903.88.53. The exclusions are available for any product that meets the description in the Annex to USTR’s notice, regardless of whether the importer filed an exclusion request. The product exclusions apply retroactively to Sept. 1, 2019, the date the tariffs on the fourth list took effect, and remain in effect until Sept. 1, 2020. The CSMS message also includes a summary of Section 301 duties that shows information on each tranche of tariffs and granted product exclusions.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on whether exclusions to tariffs on Chinese imports on Section 301 List 1 should be extended beyond Oct. 2, it said in an Aug. 3 notice. Comments are due by Aug. 30, it said. The evaluation's focus will be on whether, despite the first imposition of these additional duties, the particular product remains available only from China. The companies are required to post a public rationale.
More than 150 House members, across the ideological spectrum and both parties, sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, urging him to remove 25% duties on all European beverages and food, but to not lower the total value of duties as he adjusts the target. In the current Airbus retaliation tariff list, aircraft is the first by value, at 39%; whiskeys and liqueurs second, at 21%, and wine third, at 17%.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from July 20-24 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative weighs whether to remove any items from the Airbus retaliatory tariff list and replace them with other goods, or to hike tariffs on any goods now being taxed at an additional 25%, most trade groups are asking him to limit tariffs to aerospace, and spare what they import. The decision is due by Aug. 12.
Thousands of people who either work in the wine industry or who enjoy drinking imported wines wrote to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative between June 26 and July 26. In all, USTR received close to 30,000 comments on what to do about tariffs on European goods. USTR is considering changing the mix of products, either by putting products on the list that were spared last time, or by adding new products not considered last year. It's also considering increasing the 15% and 25% tariffs on EU goods (see 2006240017).
An importer has filed suit at the Court of International Trade seeking refunds on Section 301 tariffs based on exclusions issued after the relevant entries liquidated. Trebbianno, which does business as Showroom 35, seeks refunds of $270,040.90 in duties it paid on its imports of handbags, wallets and purses that were subsequently included under retroactive exclusions issued by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
A recent executive order suspending Hong Kong's special trade status won't result in additional tariffs on goods from Hong Kong, a senior administration official said in a July 23 email. “The July 14, 2020, Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization does not provide for new U.S. tariffs on goods from Hong Kong,” the official said. “The Administration will continue to evaluate and adjust our policies as conditions warrant.”