Presidential Proclamation Issued With Changes for 2019 Tariff Schedule

President Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation Dec. 21 making changes to the tariff schedule that are set to be implemented Jan. 1. Among other changes, the proclamation formally ends African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits for Mauritania (see 1811050019), and amends the tariff schedule to clarify duty-free treatment for certain goods of Nepal under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. Other technical and conforming changes are also being made related to the tariff treatment of guayaberas from Panama, the tariff-rate quota on tobacco products, implementation of Section 301 tariffs on China and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. The International Trade Commission will now amend the tariff schedule to implement the changes, though the agency is operating in a limited capacity due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.