Proclamation Published With New USMCA General Note 11, Other Tariff Schedule Changes

President Donald Trump on June 30 released the annexes to Presidential Proclamation 10053, including provisions to implement the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, scheduling it for publication in the July 1 Federal Register. Among the annexes are new General Note 11 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which lays out USMCA rules of origin. The proclamation also adds new special program indicators (SPIs) “S” and “S+” throughout the tariff schedule for goods eligible for USMCA treatment. These changes take effect July 1.

The proclamation also eliminates General Note 12 of the HTS, which included the NAFTA rules of origin. SPIs “CA” and “MX” for NAFTA-qualifying goods from Canada and Mexico, respectively, are removed from the tariff schedule.

Technical corrections are made by the proclamation that are unrelated to USMCA implementation. Rules of origin for trade agreements with Singapore, Colombia, South Korea and Panama are amended to provide the intended tariff treatment. The proclamation also makes reference to the application of Generalized System of Preferences benefits to Thailand, Argentina and Ukraine.