EU Adopts Changes to TRQs on Agricultural and Industrial Products

The European Union is adopting changes to its system of tariff-rate quotas for agricultural and industrial products, it said in a notice published June 20 in the EU Official Journal. The changes include the creation of six new TRQs, increases to quantity for three TRQs, and the elimination of five TRQs, many because implementation of internationally-agreed tariff cuts for information technology goods mean they are no longer necessary. The changes mostly take effect July 1.

The new TRQs cover ceramic-carbon absorption cartridges under EU tariff subheading 6909.19.00; as well as chemicals registered under CAS numbers 294-90-6 (in subheading 2933.99.80); 120100-77-8 (in 2930.90.98); 56706-10-6 (in 2930.90.98); 124-30-1 (under 2921.19.99); and 95-92-1 (in 2917.11.00). The notice says the new TRQs are being opened “to ensure an adequate supply of certain industrial products and having regard to the fact that identical, equivalent or substitute products are not produced in sufficient quantities within the Union.”

Quantity increases apply to TRQs for chemicals under CAS numbers 108-05-4 (in subheading 2915.32.00); 19372-44-2 (in 2914.19.90); and certain mixtures of tertiary alkyldimethyl amines under EU subheading 3824.99.92. The EU is also retroactively increasing the quantity for the TRQ on poly(oxy-1,4-phenylenesulphonyl-1,4-phenyleneoxy-4,4′-biphenylene) for calendar year 2018.

Finally, the EU is ending TRQs for certain e-fiber glass fabrics under 7019.40.00 and 7019.52.00; certain electric rectifiers of 8504.40.82; certain power supply boards of 8504.40.82; assemblies for global positioning satellite (GPS) systems under 8526.91.20; and lambda sensors under 9027.10.90.