The process for filing exclusion requests for products on the Section 301 List 4  begins today, October 31, 2019 and ends on January 31, 2020 The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) published the exclusion request procedures in the Federal Register on October 24, 2019.

Exclusion requests can be submitted via USTR’s portal at exclusions.ustr.gov. To be eligible for an exclusion, an importer must demonstrate that (a) there is an insufficient supply from U.S. sources; (b) the additional duties have caused severe economic harm; and (c) the imported good is not identified on the “Made in China 2025” list.  Exclusion requests are specific to products imported at the HTSUS 10-digit level and any request must clearly and succinctly identify the physical characteristics such that U.S. Customs can administer the exclusion.

USTR originally announced on August 6, 2019, that it would institute additional tariffs of 10% on approximately $250 billion dollars of imports from China identified on List 4A, but on August 26, 2019, it announced that the tariff rate would increase to 15% due to ongoing tensions and forestalled trade negotiations. Tariffs on List 4B are scheduled to go into effect on December 15, 2019. Importers should review both List 4A and 4B to identify and ensure that goods that it is importing are properly monitored.  For any importer interested in submitting an exclusion request, please contact Husch Blackwell’s International Trade and Supply Chain Team.

We will continue to monitor this situation and will provide future updates as developments occur. Please contact Husch Blackwell’s International Trade and Supply Chain team for more information.

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Photo of Nithya Nagarajan Nithya Nagarajan

Nithya’s extensive background in U.S. trade issues spans 25 years and includes various roles in a number of federal government agencies, including the Department of Commerce Department of Justice, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. She assists clients with administrative and regulatory…

Nithya’s extensive background in U.S. trade issues spans 25 years and includes various roles in a number of federal government agencies, including the Department of Commerce Department of Justice, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. She assists clients with administrative and regulatory actions before the Department of Commerce, International Trade Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and defends clients in appeals before the Court of International Trade, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, NAFTA panels and the World Trade Organization. In addition to her body of U.S. experience, Nithya is also well-versed in international trade issues in China and India.

Photo of Camron Greer Camron Greer

A trade analyst, Camron researches transitions in global trade policy and their impact on client business matters. Camron assists clients, attorneys and legal teams when trade, business and the law intersect.