2018 Tariffs: What they are and how to apply for an exclusion

Regardless if you are for or against the tariffs being imposed on imports into the US, it is important to understand how this may impact your business.

Due to the many questions we have received about the tariffs, we are aiming to provide an overview of the tariffs and a short-term way to alleviate the immediate impact on your business.

So let’s start at the beginning…

Section 232: Tariffs on Aluminum and Steel

May 31, 2018, the President issued Proclamations on Adjusting Imports of Steel and Aluminum into the United States. The import tariffs listed were:

  • 25% on steel
  • 10% on aluminum

You can see the link below for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notice on the 232 tariffs

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/232-tariffs-aluminum-and-steel

However, the heavy tariffs are levied in section 301

Section 301: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation

The Trade Representative proposes an additional duty of 25 percent on a list of products from China, representing 7133 HS codes and $250B. The lists were and will be release on three dates:

  • List 1: July 6th – 818 lines of HS codes at 25% ($34B)
  • List 2: Aug 1 – 284 lines of HS codes also estimating 25% ($16B)
  • List 3: End of Aug – 6,031 lines of HS codes also estimating 25% ($200B)

 

If you are wondering if anything you import is on that list, below is a link to the gov site that lists all the HS codes pending the section 301 tariff.

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/301FRN.pdf

In an effort to help ease into the tariffs and the “new way” doing business, the Fed Gov is offering a much more extensive exclusions program. As an importer, you can file an exclusion request. If granted the exclusion, it will be effective for one year upon the publication of the exclusion determination in the Federal Register and will apply retroactively to July 6, 2018.

Important! Oct 9th is the deadline for submitting requests for exclusions from the additional 25 percent tariff being imposed as of July 6 on goods imported from China.

We link below to the documents for the exclusion process.

If you need any help or have any questions regarding these new tariffs, the exclusion filings, or what to expect, feel free to contact us.

While things are changing in the world, we 100% believe that through knowledge sharing and solid partnerships businesses will still be able to thrive.

Exclusion process : https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/FRN%20exclusion%20process.pdf