The National Marine Fisheries Service is issuing in the Federal Register a notice detailing new Certification of Admissibility requirements for fish imported from Mexico under more than 70 Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings. The new requirement implements a court-ordered injunction against the importation of fish and shellfish caught in Mexican fisheries using gillnets (see 1807260039). Though CIT on Aug. 14 said the ban was effectively immediately (see 1808140013), certification requirements outlined in the NMFS notice take effect for imports beginning Aug. 24.
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 Revision 10 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, implementing Section 301 tariffs on a second set of goods from China effective Aug. 23, and making related changes that also affect the first tranche. New subheading 9903.88.02 is created for the new set of goods, with goods in the first tariff list that took effect July 6 still classifiable in subheading 9903.88.01 (see 1808210031). A list of goods subject to the new tariffs is added in U.S. Note 20(d) to Subchapter II of Chapter 99, while provisions on how the tariffs are to be applied are added at U.S. Note 20(c). The list of goods subject to the first round of tariffs at U.S. Note 20(b) is modified to correct a technical error. Provisions at U.S. Note 20(a) on how those tariffs are to be applied are modified to reflect the end of a total exemption from the Section 301 tariffs on U.S. goods returned after repair or alteration, processing or assembly (see 1808160049). All changes included in Revision 10 take effect Aug. 23.
The International Trade Commission recently issued Revision 9 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Changes from the previous version implement the increase in Section 232 tariffs on iron and steel products from Turkey up from 25 to 50 percent, effective Aug. 13. Among other things, new subheading 9903.80.02 is added specifically for Turkish iron and steel products, with iron and steel products from other countries subject to the original 25 percent tariff still classifiable in subheading 9903.80.01. U.S. Note 16 to Subchapter III of Chapter 99 is also modified to implement the increase. The updated tariff schedule also includes technical corrections to provisions in U.S. Note 18 to Subchapter III of Chapter 99 implementing Section 201 safeguard duties on solar cells. The corrections take effect beginning July 30.
Tech startups are among the many hundreds of innovators from various industries voicing opposition to a third proposed tranche of 25 percent Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports (see 1808150002), comments in docket USTR-2016-0026 show. One such startup, Cao Gadgets, worries about the impact tariffs will have on its “family owned small business,” which develops wireless sensor tags for a variety of Internet of Things uses, commented owner Mike Cao. Four days of public hearings are to begin Aug. 20 on the proposed third tranche. Final comments in the docket are due Sept. 6.
A domestic manufacturer is seeking the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on steel wheels 12 to 16.5 inches in diameter from China, it said in a petition filed Aug. 9 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission. The petition specifically targets steel wheels sold for use with trailers, including utility trailers, cargo trailers, horse trailers, boat trailers, recreational trailers and towable mobile homes. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service are planning to use a "certificate of admissibility" to comply with a court order to ban fish and fish products from Mexican fisheries that use gillnets near the endangered vaquita porpoises, the government said in an Aug. 3 filing. The Justice Department said there are "certain implementation challenges" due to the inclusion of two species of fish that are to be banned within the basket of provisions of a Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading that also include other species. A Court of International Trade judge recently approved a preliminary injunction (see 1807260039) that said the government must "ban the importation of all fish and fish products from Mexican commercial fisheries that use gillnets within the vaquita’s range."
As critics continue ratcheting up their opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed third round of Section 301 tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, it remains to be seen how the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will accommodate all who have requested to testify in five-minute slots during four days of public hearings scheduled to begin Aug. 20. Well more than 300 people in various industries filed requests in docket USTR-2018-0026 by the July 27 deadline to appear at the hearings, virtually all of them to say they'll testify against the tariffs.
The Commerce Department issued its final determination in the antidumping duty investigation on cast iron soil pipe fittings from China (A-570-062). Cash deposit rates set in this final determination take effect July 17.
The International Trade Commission recently posted Revision 7 to the 2018 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Coming just days after the ITC’s mid-year HTS update, the new edition adds provisions implementing a 25% Section 301 tariff on $34 billion in imports from China that took effect July 6. It also reflects the restoration of African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits for Eswatini, and the country’s renaming from Swaziland.
The Commerce Department issued its final affirmative countervailing duty determination on cast iron soil pipe fittings from China (C-570-063). Suspension of liquidation is currently not in effect for entries on or after April 18, and Commerce will only require cash deposits of estimated CV duties on future entries if it issues a CV duty order.