New Section 301 Product Exclusions Cover Ball Bearings, Ratchet Winches, Pressure Regulators

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is publishing its latest list of product exclusions from the first tranche of $34 billion in Section 301 tariffs on China. This latest third list of exclusions does not include any full tariff schedule subheadings, instead applying to 21 subsets of tariff numbers in Chapters 84, 85 and 90.

The new exclusions take effect retroactively from July 6, 2018, when the $34 billion in tariffs originally entered into force, and will remain for one year following publication of USTR’s notice, which is scheduled for April 18.

Goods entered under the exclusions will be classified in new tariff subheading 9903.88.07, USTR said. “Specially prepared product descriptions” for goods that qualify for the new exclusions are as follows:

• Pumps designed for countertop appliances for serving beer, the foregoing that control the level of carbonation by means of sonic waves (described in statistical reporting number 8413.19.0000)
• Roller machines designed for cutting, etching or embossing paper, foil or fabric, manually powered (described in statistical reporting number 8420.10.9080)
• Water oxidizers and chlorinators (described in statistical reporting number 8421.21.0000)
• Ratchet winches designed for use with textile fabric strapping (described in statistical reporting number 8425.39.0100)
• Continuous action elevators and conveyors, designed to convey mineral materials (described in statistical reporting number 8428.33.0000)
• Counterweight castings of iron or steel designed for use on fork lift and other works trucks (described in statistical reporting number 8431.20.0000)
• Tines, carriages, and other goods handling apparatuses and parts designed for use on fork lift and other works trucks (described in statistical reporting number 8431.20.0000)
• Parts of drill sharpening machines (described in statistical reporting number 8466.93.9885)
• Outer shells of hydraulic accumulators, of iron or non-alloy steel, cylindrical with hemispherical heads on each end (described in statistical reporting number 8479.90.9496)
• Parts of mechanical awnings and shades (described in statistical reporting number 8479.90.9496)
• Reject doors, pin protectors, liners, front walls, grates, hammers, rotor and end disc caps, and anvil and breaker bars, of iron or steel, the foregoing parts of metal shredders (described in statistical reporting number 8479.90.9496)
• Steering wheels designed for watercraft, of stainless steel, having a wheel diameter exceeding 27 cm but not exceeding 78 cm (described in statistical reporting number 8479.90.9496)
• Pressure regulators of brass or bronze, whether high or low inlet type, having a rated flow rate of 55,000 - 150,000 BTU/hr, maximum inlet pressure of 0.17 megapascals to 1.72 megapascals, inlet connection with POL or thread type of fitting (described in statistical reporting number 8481.10.0090)
• Pipe brackets of aluminum, each with 4 ports, the foregoing measuring 27.9 cm x 20.3 cm x 17.8 cm and weighing 11.34 kg, designed for installation into air brake control valves (described in statistical reporting number 8481.90.9040)
• Push pins and C-poles of steel, designed for use in variable force solenoid valves (described in statistical reporting number 8481.90.9040)
• Ball bearings of a width not exceeding 30 mm (described in statistical reporting number 8482.10.5032)
• Inductor baseplates of aluminum, each with a length measuring 149.20 mm or more but not over 275 mm, with a width measuring 119.40 mm or more but not over 232 mm and with a depth of 10.50 mm or more but not over 19 mm, with a weight of 0.48 kg or more but not over 3.2 kg (described in statistical reporting number 8504.90.9690)
• Parts of soldering irons and soldering machines (described in statistical reporting number 8515.90.4000)
• Motor vehicle gear shift switch assemblies, comprised of a plunger, connector and gear shift lever (described in statistical reporting number 8536.50.9065)
• Pressure switches designed for use in heat pumps and air-conditioning condensers having a rating of 1.90 megapascals or more but not over 4.55 megapascals (described in statistical reporting number 8536.50.9065)
• Instruments for measuring or checking voltage or electrical connections; electrical circuit tracers (described in statistical reporting number 9030.33.3800).

USTR is also making other conforming changes to reflect new subheading 9903.88.07, as well as other changes to previously issued exclusions to reflect tariff schedule amendments since they were issued and to correct typos.

(Federal Register 04/18/19)