Import quotas for polyester staple fiber under a safeguard announced Nov. 8 will start at zero in year one, then go to 453,592 in the second year, 907,185 in the third and 1,360,777 in the fourth and last year the safeguard is planned to be in effect, according to an annex to President Joe Biden's proclamation released Nov. 13 ahead of its publication in the Federal Register. The quotas and associated adjustments to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule take effect on Nov. 23 for imports of polyester staple fiber admitted temporarily free of duty under bond that are entered under subheading 9813.00.0520 (see 2411120039).
Section 201 Safeguards
Section 201 or “safeguard” actions are steps the President can take to provide temporary relief for an industry through the imposition of tariffs or quotas to create a more competitive environment for said industry. Section 201 actions are considered consistent with U.S. international obligations if they conform to the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Safeguards. To enact Section 201 Safeguards, a U.S. company must first file a complaint with the International Trade Commission, which then makes a determination if the industry is injured by the importation of the goods in question. If the investigation is affirmative, the President may enact the safeguards.
President Joe Biden is imposing Section 201 safeguard remedies on imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber (PSF), he said in a Nov. 8 proclamation. The action creates an absolute quota of fine denier PSF that can enter the country under temporary importation under bond (TIB). The safeguard takes effect Nov. 23, and the quota starts at zero.
Virginia's and Maryland's senators, along with members of Congress from both states, asked President Joe Biden to direct the International Trade Commission to open a Section 201 investigation on harm to the Chesapeake Bay fisheries from a surge of crab meat imports from Venezuela.
The International Trade Commission will recommend a tariff-rate quota on imports of polyester staple fiber, as well as an absolute quota on temporary imports under bond of the product -- starting at zero -- as Section 201 safeguard remedies to be considered by President Joe Biden.
President Joe Biden is again increasing the quantity of solar cells allowed under a Section 201 safeguard tariff-rate quota, he said in a proclamation issued Aug. 12. Retroactively effective for entries on or after Aug. 1, imports up to a 12.5 GW limit will now be allowed in duty-free, up from 5 GW prior to that date.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative seeks comments by Sept. 9 on how it should impose Section 201 safeguards on imports of polyester staple fiber, after the International Trade Commission in July found imports of the product are injuring U.S. industry. USTR said it may recommend tariffs or a tariff rate quota, export quota agreements, import licensing or other actions as part of the potential safeguard. Responses to comments are due Sept. 16. USTR will hold a public hearing Sept. 30, with requests to appear also due Sept. 9.
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 4 to the 2024 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS adds new 10-digit tariff numbers for a variety of products, including integrated circuits and plantation-harvested teak.
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 4 to the 2024 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS adds new 10-digit tariff numbers for a variety of products, including integrated circuits and plantation-harvested teak. All changes take effect July 1, unless otherwise specified.
The official proclamation implementing an announcement in mid-May on changes to the 14.25% tariffs on imported solar panels and the tariff rate quotas on imported cells was issued by the White House on June 21.
The exclusion from solar safeguard tariffs for bifacial solar panels -- originally meant to help utility-scale installations -- is about to end, the Biden administration announced May 16.