2020-10232. Notice of Product Exclusion: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation  

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    AGENCY:

    Office of the United States Trade Representative.

    ACTION:

    Notice of product exclusion amendments.

    SUMMARY:

    Effective July 6, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed additional duties on goods of China with an annual trade value of approximately $34 billion as part of the action in the Section 301 investigation of China's acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The U.S. Trade Representative's determination included a decision to establish a product exclusion process. The U.S. Trade Representative initiated the exclusion process in July 2018, and stakeholders have submitted requests for the exclusion of specific products. In December 2018, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, and December 2019, and February 2020 the U.S. Trade Representative issued determinations to grant exclusion requests on a rolling basis. This notice announces the U.S. Trade Representative's determination to make certain technical amendments to previously granted exclusions.

    DATES:

    The technical amendments announced in this notice are retroactive to the date the original exclusions were published and do not further extend the period for the original exclusions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue instructions on entry guidance and implementation.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    For general questions about this notice, contact Associate General Counsel Philip Butler or Director of Industrial Goods Justin Hoffmann at (202) 395-5725. For specific questions on customs classification or implementation of the product exclusions identified in the Annex to this notice, contact traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:Start Printed Page 28693

    A. Background

    For background on the proceedings in this investigation, please see prior notices including: 82 FR 40213 (August 23, 2017), 83 FR 14906 (April 6, 2018), 83 FR 28710 (June 20, 2018), 83 FR 33608 (July 17, 2018), 83 FR 38760 (August 7, 2018), 83 FR 40823 (August 16, 2018), 83 FR 47974 (September 21, 2018), 83 FR 65198 (December 19, 2018), 83 FR 67463 (December 28, 2018), 84 FR 7966 (March 5, 2019), 84 FR 11152 (March 25, 2019), 84 FR 16310 (April 18, 2019), 84 FR 21389 (May 14, 2019), 84 FR 25895 (June 4, 2019), 84 FR 32821 (July 9, 2019), 84 FR 49564 (September 20, 2019), 84 FR 52567 (October 2, 2019), 84 FR 69016 (December 17, 2019), and 85 FR 7816 (February 11, 2020).

    Effective July 6, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed additional 25 percent duties on goods of China classified in 818 8-digit subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), with an approximate annual trade value of $34 billion. See 83 FR 28710. The U.S. Trade Representative's determination included a decision to establish a process by which U.S. stakeholders could request exclusion of particular products classified within an 8-digit HTSUS subheading covered by the $34 billion action from the additional duties. The U.S. Trade Representative issued a notice setting out the process for the product exclusions and opened a public docket. See 83 FR 32181 (the July 11 notice).

    Under the July 11 notice, requests for exclusion had to identify the product subject to the request in terms of the physical characteristics that distinguish the product from other products within the relevant 8-digit subheading covered by the $34 billion action. Requestors also had to provide the 10-digit subheading of the HTSUS most applicable to the particular product requested for exclusion, and could submit information on the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to administer the requested exclusion. Requestors were asked to provide the quantity and value of the Chinese-origin product that the requestor purchased in the last three years. With regard to the rationale for the requested exclusion, requests had to address the following factors:

    • Whether the particular product is available only from China and, specifically, whether the particular product and/or a comparable product is available from sources in the United States and/or third countries.
    • Whether the imposition of additional duties on the particular product would cause severe economic harm to the requestor or other U.S. interests.
    • Whether the particular product is strategically important or related to “Made in China 2025” or other Chinese industrial programs.

    The July 11 notice stated that the U.S. Trade Representative would take into account whether an exclusion would undermine the objectives of the Section 301 investigation.

    The July 11 notice required submission of requests for exclusion from the $34 billion action no later than October 9, 2018, and noted that the U.S. Trade Representative periodically would announce decisions. In December 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative granted an initial set of exclusion requests. See 83 FR 67463. The U.S. Trade Representative granted additional exclusions in March, April, May, June, July, September, October, and December 2019, and February 2020. See 84 FR 49600; 84 FR 52553; 85 FR 10808; 84 FR 11152; 84 FR 16310; 84 FR 21389; 84 FR 25895; 84 FR 32821; 84 FR 49564; 84 FR 52567; 84 FR 69016; and 85 FR 7816.

    B. Technical Amendments to Exclusions

    Subparagraph A of the Annex makes two technical amendments to U.S. notes 20(q)(184), and 20(q)(228) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as set out in the Annex of the notice published at 84 FR 49564 (September 20, 2019).

    The U.S. Trade Representative will continue to issue determinations on a periodic basis as needed.

    Annex

    A. Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on July 6, 2018:

    1. U.S. note 20(q)(184) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is modified by deleting “AC motors, multi-phase, of an output exceeding 37.5 W but not exceeding 74.6 W, each fitted with a timing belt (described in statistical reporting number 8501.51.4040)” and inserting “AC motors, 3 phase, fitted with a timing belt and of an output no less than 90 W but not exceeding 135 W (described in statistical reporting number 8501.51.4040)” in lieu thereof.

    2. U.S. note 20(q)(228) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is modified by deleting “each valued not over $18” and inserting “each valued not over $39” in lieu thereof.

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    Joseph Barloon,

    General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.

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    [FR Doc. 2020-10232 Filed 5-12-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P

Document Information

Published:
05/13/2020
Department:
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of product exclusion amendments.
Document Number:
2020-10232
Dates:
The technical amendments announced in this notice are retroactive to the date the original exclusions were published and do not further extend the period for the original exclusions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue instructions on entry guidance and implementation.
Pages:
28692-28693 (2 pages)
PDF File:
2020-10232.Pdf
Supporting Documents:
» Amendment to Product Exclusion and Product Exclusion Extension: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
» Determination Pursuant to Section 301: India's Digital Services Tax
» Product Exclusion Extensions and Additional Modifications: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
» Extension of Particular Exclusions Granted Under the $300 Billion Action Pursuant to Section 301: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
» Product Exclusions: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
» Product Exclusion Extensions: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
» Hearings: Trade Distorting Policies That May Be Affecting Seasonal and Perishable Products in U.S. Commerce
» Product Exclusion Amendments: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
» Review of Action: Enforcement of U.S. WTO Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute; Amendment
» Extension of Particular Exclusions: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation