USTR Releases Some Details on Section 301 Tariffs, Comment Deadlines

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative posted information on submitting public comments on the new list of products proposed for Section 301 tariffs. The notice again lists the products from China that will see new tariffs starting July 6 (see 1806150003) but doesn't spell out the process for requesting product exclusions. Those details will come in a separate notice, USTR said. The agency's notice also "creates a new Chapter 99 subheading for entry purposes (entries of articles classified in the tariff subheadings identified in Annex A have to use the new Chapter 99 classification as a secondary classification, so the additional 25% duty can be assessed) and addresses foreign trade zone admissions," Baker & McKenzie lawyer Ted Murphy said said in a June 18 blog post

The notice also calls for public comments on the new list of goods to which Section 301 tariffs may also apply. USTR will hold a hearing on the proposed tariffs on July 24 at the International Trade Commission in Washington. Requests to appear at the hearing are due June 29, and written comments are due July 23. Post-hearing rebuttal comments are due July 31. Questions on the ongoing Section 301 investigation should be directed to Arthur Tsao, USTR assistant general counsel, at (202) 395-5725. Questions on tariff classification of the items listed by USTR in its notice should be directed to traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov.

(Federal Register 06/20/2018)