U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule Updates for July, 2018

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) posted Revision 6 changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), which were effective July 1, 2018.

This update included:

  1. Tariff modifications from the 484 F Committee, the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules.
  2. Third year duty reductions under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products. The duty reductions can be reviewed in Annex B to the Federal Register Notice.

Changes were made to Chapters 7, 8, 20, 22, 26, 29, 32, 35, 37, 39, 44, 48, 55, 70, 84, 85, 90, 94 and 97.

The most notable change is for ‘Other Articles of Plastic’, HTS 3926.90.9996.

This changed to 3926.90.9990. A new HTS, 3926.90.9940, was established for manhole covers, rings, and frames; catch basins; drainage gates and frames; cleanout covers and frames; and valve, service and meter boxes.

Other changes of note include:

-Squash, blueberries, and other frozen juice –based on whether ‘Certified Organic’.

-Fresh raspberries, -based on packaging weight, over or under 5 kilograms.

-Methanol (methyl alcohol) –based on the use of the product.

-Tropical plywood not surface covered –based on dimensions (size).

-Molded paper pulp articles –based on whether plates, bowls and cups.

-Glass mirrors –based on whether containing LED or florescent lighting.

-Compressor parts –based on whether impellers, covers, or hubs.

-Molds for metal –based on whether centrifugal castings of ductile iron pipe.

-Gear box parts –based on whether forged gear blanks.

-Solar cells and assemblies –based on whether crystalline silicone photovoltaic cells.

-Archaeological, historic, ethnographic and collections pieces, -based on if meeting the new definition in Chapter 97 Statistical Note 1.

 

On July 6, 2018, the ITC posted Revision 7 to the HTS.

This update included:

  1. HTS 9903.88.01, for reporting the additional import duties for Chinese goods covered by the Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which are effective July 6, 2018. This is due to the government of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation.
  2. A change in the country name for ‘Swaziland’ to ‘Eswatini’, effective July 3, 2018. Eswatini is an eligible country under the General System of Preferences (GSP) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

If you have any questions regarding the July 2018 HTS changes, Livingston can help!  Please contact either your Livingston account manager or our regulatory affairs department at usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com