The International Trade Commission issued Revision 12 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The relatively comprehensive update implements as of Oct. 1 new provisions for wood products agreed to by the World Customs Organization, and adds new subheadings for pesticide-impregnated bed nets in Chapter 63. Other changes include new provisions for the third, $200 billion list of 10 percent Section 301 tariffs that took effect for goods from China beginning Sept. 24, as well as new exemptions for certain products from Section 201 safeguards on solar cells that took effect Sept. 19.
In the Sept. 26 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 52, No. 39), CBP published notices that propose to revoke rulings and similar treatment for greek yogurt dips and sheep's milk cheeses.
The removal of subheadings 0304.81.10 and 0304.81.50, which cover frozen salmon, from the recently implemented Section 301 10 percent tariffs applies retroactively to Sept. 24, CBP said in a CSMS message. "Any importer of goods classified in subheadings 0304.81.10 or 0304.84.50 in which Section 301 duties were assessed on or after that date can request a refund of the additional duties," CBP said. "Importers may file a post summary correction to request a refund of Section 301 duties assessed on goods classified in subheadings 0304.81.10 or 0304.84.50." The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative removed those subheadings (see 1809270038) “to account fully for the extensive public comments and testimony previously provided,” it said.
Cases for iPads that allow for wireless charging through a separate charging base are not classifiable as “similar containers” under heading 4202, CBP said in a June 28 ruling. The ruling, HQ H287462, was in response to a request for further review of a protest filed by Dana Innovation, the parent company of Sonance. CBP liquidated such iPad cases in 4202.99.9000 with a 20 percent duty rate.
CBP is withdrawing its proposed modification of ruling on two styles of Guayabera shirt-blouses made of either linen or cotton, the agency said in the Sept. 26 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 52, No. 39). CBP proposed modifying a classification ruling in 2017 because the women’s Guayabera shirts are not precluded from classification under heading 6206 even though the bottom pockets start below the waist (see 1708180033). CBP received one comment in opposition to the proposed modification, the agency said. That comment stated that
CBP's reading of the applicable explanatory notes was "erroneous because men’s and boys’ shirts are an entirely different article of commerce than women’s and girls’ shirts and blouses, and entire industries are based on the difference," CBP said. "We recognize the distinction and find that the guayabera style shirt-blouses are properly classified in subheading 6211.49.90."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is amending the list of goods from China newly subject to 10 percent Section 301 tariffs to remove frozen salmon and make conforming changes to subheadings covering wood. Effective Sept. 24, USTR is removing from the list subheadings 0304.81.10 and 0304.81.50, which cover frozen salmon, in order “to account fully for the extensive public comments and testimony previously provided” in the Section 301 investigation.
CBP released its Sept. 26 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 52, No. 39), which includes the following ruling actions:
Two U.S. manufacturers seek the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum wire and cable from China, they said in a petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission Sept. 21. 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.
The American Keg Company recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on refillable stainless steel kegs from Germany, Mexico and China, and new countervailing duties on refillable stainless steel kegs from China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on refillable stainless steel kegs that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is setting fiscal year 2019 country allocations for imports under tariff-rate quotas for refined sugars and “certain sugar-containing products” under U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 17 of the tariff schedule. For refined sugars, of a total of 20,344 metric tons raw value, USTR is allocating 10,300 MTRV to Canada, 2,954 MTRV to Mexico, and 7,090 MTRV of refined sugar to be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. For imports of sugar-containing products, USTR is allocating 59,250 metric tons to Canada, and 5,459 to other countries on a first-come, first-served basis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced total FY19 TRQ amounts in June (see 1806280043).