CBP has released its Aug. 13 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 59, No. 33), which includes the following ruling actions:
The Commerce Department will add 407 Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes to the lists of steel and aluminum derivatives subject to Section 232 tariffs, the agency said in a notice released late Aug. 15. Tariffs on the new additions take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 18, 2025.
Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives, currently set at 50%, will cover 407 additional Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 18, the Commerce Department said in a notice released late on Aug. 15. The notice includes no exception for goods in transit as of the effective date.
The International Trade Commission instituted an investigation on Aug. 12 that will lead to recommendations to modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule in line with those recommended by the World Customs Organization for the global Harmonized System.
A domestic producer recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting imposition of antidumping duties and countervailing duties on high purity dissolving pulp (HPDP) from Brazil and Norway. Commerce now will decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CVD orders and the assessment of AD and CVD on importers. Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. and the United Steelworkers labor union requested the investigation.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Aug. 4-10:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Target General Merchandise's string light models are properly classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 9405 as lamps with a "permanently fixed light source" not specified elsewhere in the tariff schedule and not under heading 8543 as parts of electrical machines having individual functions not specified elsewhere in the chapter, the Court of International Trade held on Aug. 13. Judge Lisa Wang ruled that Target's seven models of string lights specifically fall under subheading 9405.30.00 as lighting sets "of a kind used for Christmas trees.”
The American Apparel and Footwear Association thanked the Trump administration's suspension of higher tariff rates on China, but said the measure only keeps American companies and consumers "stuck in the same holding pattern" since President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs were announced.
U.S.-origin resin bought by a Chinese manufacturer to make zipper bags isn't an assist for valuation purposes because it was bought at full price from U.S. suppliers unrelated to the U.S. importer of the bags, CBP said in a recent ruling.