Office of the United States Trade Representative September 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In a notice published on September 21, 2018 (September 21st Notice), the U.S. Trade Representative (Trade Representative) adopted a supplemental action in this 301 investigation by imposing additional duties on goods of China classified in subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) listed in Annex A of that Notice. Pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation of July 30, 2018, certain HTSUS subheadings covered by the supplemental action will be modified as of October 1, 2018. This notice conforms the September 21 supplemental action to the HTSUS modifications in the Presidential Proclamation and amends the prior action taken in the investigation by removing certain subheadings of the HTSUS listed in Annex A to the September 21st Notice.

In accordance with the specific direction of the President, the U.S. Trade Representative (Trade Representative) has determined to modify the prior action in this investigation by imposing additional duties on products of China classified in the subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) set out in Annex A to this notice. The rate of additional duty is initially 10 percent ad valorem. On January 1, 2019, the rate of additional duty will increase to 25 percent ad valorem.

In a notice published on August 16, 2018 (83 FR 40823), the U.S. Trade Representative (Trade Representative) determined to take an additional action in the Section 301 investigation of China's acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The August 16 notice also announced that the Trade Representative would establish a process by which U.S. stakeholders may request that particular products classified within a tariff subheading covered by the additional action be excluded from the additional duties. This notice sets out the specific procedures and criteria related to requests for product exclusions, and opens up a docket for the receipt of exclusion requests.