The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on metal lockers and parts thereof from China (A-570-133/C-570-134). The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2019. The AD duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) provide classification provisions and 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 CBP is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.
The International Trade Commission recently issued several revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to implement new and amended Section 301 exclusions and complete its July 1 implementation of USMCA. Most recently, in Revision 17, issued July 28, the ITC implemented a new round of exclusions from list 4 Section 301 tariffs under U.S. Note 20(fff) to subchapter III of Chapter 99, and new subheading 9903.88.53 (see 2007210026). The ITC also amended tariff numbers listed for some exclusions in U.S. Note 20(ddd).
Four U.S. manufacturers seek the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on metal lockers from China, they said in a petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission July 8. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers.
2020 outpaced even the active 2019 in terms of the frequency of Harmonized Tariff Schedule updates. Most of the updates implemented new Section 301 exclusions and changes and extensions for existing ones. Other major changes included new Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum "derivatives" and the withdrawal of Generalized System of Preferences benefits for many goods from Thailand In all, 13 revisions were issued prior to the mid-year Revision 14, as follows:
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 14 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS implements USMCA, which took effect July 1, and adds new tariff numbers for a variety of products, including diagnostic reagents and personal protective equipment. All changes take effect July 1, unless otherwise specified.
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 14 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS implements USMCA, which took effect July 1, and adds new tariff numbers for a variety of products, including diagnostic reagents and personal protective equipment. All changes take effect July 1, unless otherwise specified.
The International Trade Commission on June 12 posted new Revision 13 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This latest revision implements a round of exclusions from the fourth tranche of Section 301 tariffs on products from China, under subheading 9903.88.49 and U.S. note 20(bbb) to subchapter III of chapter 99 (see 2006090018). The ITC also amended an existing exclusion from the tariffs for certain pill crushing and grinding machines of subheading 8479.82.0080, per a USTR notice issued June 8.
The International Trade Commission on June 4 issued Revision 12 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This latest edition implements a June 2 notice from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that extends some exclusions from list 1 Section 301 tariffs on products from China (see 2005290020). The extended exclusions are listed in new U.S. Note 20(ccc) to Chapter 99 in the tariff schedule, and goods entered under these exclusions are classifiable under new subheading 9903.88.0050.
The International Trade Commission recently issued two more revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to implement extended and new exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on China. In Revision 11, issued May 29, the ITC implemented new exclusions from List 3 tariffs under U.S. Note 20(aaa) and subheading 9903.88.48 (see 2005220020). The agency also removed two list 4 exclusions (see 2005270022), and extended some exclusions from the first list of Section 301 tariffs that had been set to expire May 14 (see 2005130003), according to the change record.
The International Trade Commission recently issued two revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, largely to implement changes that had been previously announced to exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on goods from China and changes to tariffs on goods from the European Union imposed as part of the large civil aircraft dispute. Both revisions were issued by the ITC in March.