ITC Issues Revision 2 to Harmonized Tariff Schedule; Most Changes Took Effect March 23

March 26, 2018 |Other U.S.

The International Trade Commission on March 23 issued Revision 2 to the 2018 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The main reason for the update was to implement new Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel products (see 1803230060). The ITC also made technical corrections and changes related to recently imposed Section 201 safeguard duties on solar cells and residential washers. The changes, most of which took effect March 23, are as follows:

Implementation of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products. The tariff schedule is amended to implement new Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products. Changes are substantially the same as those included in an annex to the presidential proclamations that imposed the new tariffs (see 1803140030), a key difference being language exempting products of Australia, Argentina, South Korea, Brazil and the European Union from the tariffs, in addition to exemptions for Mexico and Canada.

The new 25% steel tariff is provided for in new U.S. note 16 of subchapter III of Chapter 99, as well as new subheading 9903.80.01. The new 10% tariff on aluminum products is included under new U.S. note 19 of subchapter III of Chapter 99, as well as new subheading 9903.85.01.

Compiler’s notes are added to chapters 72 and 73 that say steel products classifiable in these chapters may be subject to additional duty and directing users to check note 16. A similar compiler’s note is added to Chapter 76 for aluminum products, directing users to note 19.

Safeguards on washers and solar cells. New footnotes are added to several subheadings in chapters 84 and 85 to specify that they may be subject to Section 201 safeguard duties and classifiable in subheadings of Chapter 99 (see 1802020012).

Nepal Generalized System of Preferences benefits. A footnote has been added to the list of Special Program Indicators (SPIs) for free trade agreements and programs to clarify that the list has “not been updated for the special GSP provisions applicable to certain products of Nepal, for which the symbol is ‘NP.’” The GSP provisions were added by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (see 1603010043).

Technical corrections and other minor changes. A technical correction clarifies the text of subheading 0707.00.50 (cucumbers and gherkins). Units of quantity are added to subheadings 2930.90.9108, 2930.90.9124, 3808.91.2501, 3808.99.9501 and 8465.20.8000.