USTR Announces Extensions To List 2 Exclusions Expiring July 31

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has posted a round of List 2 exclusion extensions, this time for products and harmonized tariff schedule (HTS) subheadings with exclusions expiring on July 31, 2020. The extended exclusions cover fourteen specially prepared product descriptions.

While USTR indicated that it would consider extensions of up to 12 months, these exclusions have been extended only through December 2020. The new expiration date for these exclusions is December 31, 2020. All other HTS subheadings and products with exclusions granted in July 2019 will lose their exclusions on July 31, making them subject to the 25 percent tariff applied to List 2 goods.

As always, product exclusions are not importer-specific—they are applicable for any importer of the excluded merchandise. The scope of the exclusions is governed by the language of the product descriptions provided by USTR in its list, not by product descriptions shown in any particular exclusion request or HTS classification.

Three comment periods on exclusions for Lists 2 and 4a will close today, while a fourth for List 4a will remain open until August 14, 2020. All can be found at USTR’s online portal. No exclusions have been extended by USTR in the absence of comments in support of the extension. Therefore, we recommend that you strongly consider submitting comments in support of the extension of any product exclusions benefitting you or your suppliers.

For more information, please contact Samantha Rocci at srocci@rvia.org.