Which Goods are Covered by List 4A?
The August
2019 action covers the products classified within the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings set out in Annex A and Annex
C of the notice published at 84 FR 43304 (August 20, 2019) as modified by 84 FR
45821 (August 30, 2019).
Link to
4A: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/Notice_of_Modification_%28List_4A_and_List_4B%29.pdf
Which parties are entitled to file an exclusion request?
Requestors must
provide their relationship to the product (Importer, U.S. Producer, Purchaser,
Industry Association, Other)
How does a party file an exclusion request?
Only claims submitted on the USTR Web portal will be
accepted. Here is a link to the Portal:
https://exclusions.ustr.gov/portal/s/
When is the deadline to file?
The process for the filing of exclusion requests was
announced with an application open season of October 31, 2019-January 31, 2020.
How long is USTR taking to adjudicate the requests?
There is no set time frame but decisions are usually delivered
a few months after submission.
If granted how long will the exemption be in effect?
If granted, the exclusion will have retroactive effect to
the date of first imposition (September 1, 2019) and will have a life of 1-year
from the date of publication in the Federal Register.
What happens to product entered into the US before a
grant is issues?
Care should be taken to preserve the right to a refund while
the application is pending by requesting that the liquidation of the entry be
suspended or that protective protests are filed after liquidation.
What percentage of requests are granted?
A review of the applications previously filed for exclusions
of the tariffs imposed by Lists 1 and 2 reveals that the exclusions are granted
on an exceptional basis—approximately 1/3 of the requests were granted.
What is a single product?
Each request must cover a “single product” as defined by the
USTR for purposes of the request process.
The starting
point is the 10-digit subheading of the HTSUS applicable to the particular
product requested for exclusion.
How should I further describe my product?
Each request demands
a product name and a detailed product description which includes, but is not
limited to, its physical characteristics (e.g., dimensions, weight, material
composition, etc.).
It is also
necessary to discuss the product’s function, application (whether the product
is designed to function in or with a particular machine or other device), the
unit value of the product (please provide range if necessary), principal use,
and any unique physical features that distinguish it from other products within
the covered 8-digit HTSUS subheading.
Can I upload
documents in support of my request?
Yes you will be
given the opportunity to upload sales brochures and literature ss well as pictures.
What kind of
corporate financial data will I be expected to produce?
Requestors
must provide their specific data on the annual quantity and value of the
Chinese-origin product, domestic product, and third-country product the
Requestor purchased, in 2017, 2018, and the first half of 2019 (January –
June).
Requestors
must provide information regarding their company’s gross revenues for 2018 and
the first half of 2019 (January – June).
For
imports sold as final products, Requestors must provide the percentage of their
total gross sales in 2018 that accounted for sales of the Chinese-origin
product.
For
imports used in the production of final products, Requestors must provide the
percentage of the total cost of producing the final product(s) the
Chinese-origin input accounts for and the percentage of their total gross sales
in 2018 that sales of the final product(s) accounted for.
Will my
exclusion request be open to public inspection?
Most of the request will be viewable by the public.
However, required information regarding the
Requestor’s purchases and gross sales and revenue is business confidential and
the information entered will not be publicly viewable.
What if the product is subject to the China 2025 Program?
The final question in the Portal asks if the particular product of concern is “strategically
important or related to “Made in China 2025” or other Chinese
industrial programs.”
The “Made in China 2025” policy highlighted ten industries critical to advancing
China’s economic development plan, including aviation, artificial intelligence,
robotics, and advanced medical devices. China’s plan focuses on promoting
high-tech innovation and intellectual property acquisition to drive Chinese
manufacturing up the value chain.
If the requestor
answers “yes” there is a significant chance that the USTR will deny the claim.
Will other parties be given an opportunity to comment
upon my exclusion request?
Yes – for a period up to 14 days after a party files a claim
a respondent will be able to make public comments in support of or opposed to
your request. These comments will be viewable by the public and a Requestor
will have 7 days to file a rebuttal.
Can ITC assist with the filing of an exclusion request?
ITC has filed List 3 requests for exclusion and is drafting
requests for List 4A. Parties contemplating filing an exclusion request can contact
us for more information and assistance.