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Everyone in the supply chain industry has been talking about Section 301 tariffs in borderline apocalyptic terms. The trade talks with China are on thin ice, and manufacturing in China has gotten progressively more difficult over a jarringly short period of time. But what do these changes mean? And what does it really entail for U.S. importers and their customers?
Section 301 tariffs were put in place by the USTR by order of the President as a consequence of unfair trade practices by China. These tariffs impact $550 billion worth of goods imported from China and have caused severe economic obstacles for companies that import Chinese products.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers are here to help you with all of your Section 301 and importing needs. We've helped our clients recover millions of dollars in Section 301 tariff refunds. Even if you imported your goods with another company, we can still work with you. We'll ensure you receive the maximum refund based on your specific situation.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
As the global economy grows, a network of free trade agreements between countries has begun emerging to make trade between trusted partners a faster, cheaper process. However, sometimes, a country will violate the agreement, or act in a way that goes against the interests of their trade partner. When this happens, something must be done to re-establish a fair arrangement, or to terminate the agreement entirely.
In the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is the agency with the authority to regulate and monitor the trade agreements that have been established with other countries.
Sections 301 to 310 of the Trade Act of 1974 allow the USTR to conduct investigations on countries that are suspected of trade agreement violations and take the necessary actions to correct them. This action usually takes the form of an increased tariff rate, to make up for the perceived monetary deficiency caused by illegitimate or unfair trade practices.
In 2017, the USTR turned its attention to the suspicious trade behaviors of one of the U.S.’s largest trade partners: China. In Section 301 investigations, China was found to be guilty of four different practices that burden U.S. commerce.
As a result of these findings, the U.S. government imposed tariffs on Chinese goods to make up for the money they were losing as a result of those policies and illegal technology transfers.
While there's much more to be said about the tariffs themselves, this is the question on the mind of many importers.
The good news is the answer is yes. Section 301 duties are eligible for a refund and drawback in a number of different ways.
In general, a duty drawback is possible when imported goods are later exported or properly disposed of within three years. However, refunds for section 301 duties are obtainable through other methods as well.
Thanks to Section 301 exclusions, products that were previously assessed an additional tariff may be eligible for a refund.
If you need help applying for and receiving a refund for section 301 duties, our team is prepared to help you. Our Licensed Customs Brokers have extensive experience in processing duty refunds. We make the process simple and easy to ensure that you receive your refund as quickly as possible.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
Speaking of Section 301 exclusions, it's important to understand how these work.
After a round of new tariffs is introduced, there is a brief period of time where individuals or corporations can request that a specific product be excluded from the list. If the requester can provide valid, justifiable evidence to support their claim, the USTR grants them an exclusion on the specific product.
However, this exclusion status is not permanent, and each list of exclusions is set to expire after a specified period of time. However, the USTR does grant extensions on product exclusions. For a complete guide on this, check out our article on 301 tariff exclusion extension.
In order for the product exclusion request to be considered, requesters are required to electronically submit the following information to the USTR:
To ensure that an exclusion request or extension is properly submitted in a timely manner, many importers opt to work with a Licensed Customs Broker. Our team at USA Customs Clearance can submit an exclusion request or extension request on your behalf. We put our knowledge and experience to work ensuring that your request is completely accurate which increases the chance that it will be approved.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China and is considered by Beijing to be simply a renegade province of China. However, the 301 tariffs that the U.S. imposed on China do not apply to Taiwan. Likewise, it also does not apply to Hong Kong or Macau.
There are a few reasons why the tariffs do not include Taiwan. For one thing, despite how the Chinese government considers it, Taiwan is an independently governed island and is considered to be its own country by most of the world. It is not involved in the trade agreement violations and does not even remotely benefit from them.
In addition to that, the manufacturing and export business in Taiwan is nowhere near as developed as in mainland China. In 2018, shipments from Taiwan accounted for less than 2% of all U.S. imports, compared to 21.2% from China.
Taiwan does not have a free trade agreement with the United States and is not involved with the political decisions of mainland China, so the Trade Act of 1974 does not apply. The USTR cannot enforce the 301 tariffs in a country with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement.
On July 14, 2020, Executive Order 13936 was signed. This changed the country of origin requirement on products coming out of Hong Kong. The country indicated on the packaging can no longer be ‘Hong Kong’ or even ‘Hong Kong, China’. Any goods manufactured in Hong Kong will be marked as "Made in China".
Even with this change though, products whose country of origin is Hong Kong are not subject to Section 301 duties. Hong Kong continues to have a unique ISO country code that can be applied for international trade purposes.
If you've imported products from Hong Kong and have been incorrectly charged section 301 duties, contact us. We'll work with you to file a Post Summary Correction (PSC) in order to fix this mistake and receive all refunds that you're eligible for.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
After the U.S. investigation of China, President Trump had to come up with a plan for balancing the trade deal once more. He issued a tariff to be included on several different types of products, in addition to the normal tariff rate. This list of products is called a “retaliation list,” but he didn’t just stop at one.
There are now 4 retaliation lists in place, covering almost every single product that China exports to the U.S.
The first list of products affected by new tariffs was directly related to the accusations against China. Because of the Chinese acquisition of U.S. technologies, the majority of items on this list were industrially significant technologies.
The tariff rate was set to increase to 30% on October 15, 2019, but President Trump called off the increase in light of the trade talks with China shortly before that date. The increase could still happen at a later date, but as of March 2022, the tariff rate remains at 25% unless the product has been granted exclusions.
This list includes many different kinds of products and contains $34 billion worth of imports. Some of these products are:
The entire list of products in List 1 is quite long and encompasses many different industries.
In August 2018, only a month after the first list went into effect, a second list on another $16 billion worth of imports was introduced. Like List 1, this one was also originally subject to a 25% tax and had the potential increase to 30% suspended.
List 2 continues the theme of taxing industrial materials, but applies to some of the raw materials that got left out of the first list, like:
Although not as long as List 1, there are plenty of products in List 2.
List 3 is where things began to get messy. Rather than addressing the U.S. concerns, China issued a retaliatory 25% tariff on U.S. goods, valued at $50 billion—equivalent to the U.S. tariffs on China.
As a result of China’s retaliation, a third list was drafted. This list would propose an additional 10% tariff rate on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and encompass products that had little to do with industrial technology.
As with the other lists, List 3 was set to increase the tariff rate to 25% in January of 2019, then to 30% in October of 2019. Like the other two lists, however, the 30% rate has been suspended, and the tariff rate remains at 25%.
These drastic increases were meant to deter China from issuing another retaliatory tariff in response. This new, extensive list includes products like:
Unlike the first two lists, the items in List 3 have little relevance to each other. List 3 is vast and encompassing, and covers close to 6,000 different subheadings in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
As a result of continued resistance from China, a final list was drafted to cover the rest of the goods not already covered by one of the first three lists. The imports affected by this list amount to an approximate value of $300 billion.
Originally, the tariffs were going to be 10%, but like the other lists, that was also later rethought and increased to counter the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China. The list was split into two sections to spread out the introduction of the tariffs.
List 4A was set to go into effect at 15% on September 1st, 2019. However, the president has since indicated that the tariff rate will once again fall—this time to only 7.5%. This change went into effect on February 14th.
List 4B was set for December 15th, 2019, but was suspended until further notice upon the signing of a Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China on January 15, 2020.
Since the cancellation of list 4B, many consumer goods have been spared the increased tariff rate. Now, list 4 contains items such as:
The products in List 4 are so varied because the list was intended to cover every single product that China exports, except for what was already included in previous lists.
However, in the interests of public health and the economy, there are certain products that are automatically excluded from List 4. Some pharmaceuticals, medical tools, rare materials, and critical minerals will not be included in this new list.
As of March 2022, items from list 4A still pay a 7.5% tariff rate, and items on list 4B are not subject to tariff increases of any rate.
If you are importing items from List 4, be sure to work with an experienced Customs Broker who can make the final determination on whether the product is excluded from the tariff increase or not.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
There are many different facets to the section 301 tariff decisions, and they continue to evolve as the trade negotiations between the U.S. and China escalate. Over time, the simple decision to increase tariffs on a list of products has evolved to include 4 different lists, and the percentage of additional duty has changed over time. Because of this, there isn’t just one date for everything to start. There are different effective dates for each list, and for each change made to them.
Below is a basic timeline of events, to help you see what has changed so far, and what changes will be implemented:
July 6, 2018 - 25% additional tariff rate applied to List 1 items.
August 23, 2018 - 25% additional tariff rate applied to List 2 items.
September 24, 2018 - 10% additional tariff rate applied to List 3 items.
May 10, 2019 - Tariff rate raised to 25% for List 3 items.
September 1, 2019 - 15% tariff rate applied to List 4A items.
October 15, 2019 - planned tariff increases to List 1, 2, and 3 SUSPENDED
December 15, 2019 - 15% tariff rate applied to List 4B items.
February 14, 2020 - 7.5% tariff rate applied to List 4A items; 15% tariff removed from List 4B items.
UPDATE
As of March 2022, 352 of the previous 549 exclusions have been reinstated. No changes have been made to the tariff rates on any of the four lists. There continue to be product exclusion applications and Covid-19-related product exclusion applications for all four lists.
Since the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus that causes COVID-19, demand has spiked for certain medical supplies to prevent the spread of the virus. With masks and other equipment in short supply, importing personal protective equipment from China has never been more important.
On Friday, March 20th, 2020, the USTR began accepting public comments on potential exclusions for medical supplies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and government agencies were encouraged to make requests before the comment period closes on June 25th.
Although some supplies with increased demand due to the virus were already exempt from the initial tariffs, such as ventilators and oxygen masks, the outbreak has pressed the USTR to consider additional exceptions. These new exceptions will make it much more affordable for companies to import surgical gloves and other important sterile medical products.
Opening the comment period for additional product exclusions is part of the USTR’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the necessary medical supplies will be available in the wake of this pandemic.
To make a request for a product exclusion in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, interested persons should describe in detail how the specific product would be used to mitigate or control the spread of the virus in their comment. Products used to treat serious symptoms of the disease, or those that could produce such products, are also being considered for exceptions. Comments can be suggested for products from any of the 4 lists, as long as a case can be made for how it would help the fight against COVID-19.
Individuals looking to import face masks would be relieved to know that this vital product was exempted from the section 301 tariffs on March 5, 2020, as a result of the outbreak, but there are many other products that are not so easy to import. There are strict regulations for importing ventilators, and many disinfectants like isopropyl alcohol and hand sanitizers are not yet exempt from the section 301 tariffs.
There are many more opportunities for requesting exclusions too, such as patient monitoring devices, laboratory equipment, and various other supplies.
After accepting public comments on potential exclusions from March to June of 2020, the USTR provided notice of product exclusions extensions and further modifications. Published on December 29, 2020, it stated that exclusions related to medical-care products used in the treatment of Covid-19 would be extended to March 31st of 2021.
These exclusions apply to eligible products within all four lists. Some items in this category include:
The total list covered 99 products. Determination for exclusion is based on specific descriptions within the HTSUS product number. It isn’t enough for a product to have the same number; it must also match a specific description. Speak with a Customs Consultant to make sure of the exact descriptions of products where the exclusion is applied.
Since releasing the original list of excluded items, various changes and updates have been made. As with the four lists of items subject to increased duty tariff, applications to extend tariff exclusions of items being used for the treatment and prevention of Covid-19 are still available.
All 99 product exclusions were extended to November 30, 2021. After that, 18 product exclusions were permitted to expire. The remaining 81 product exclusions were extended to May 31, 2022. Further extensions or modifications may be considered in the future.
These section 301 tariffs can place a significant monetary burden on importers. Smaller or less-established companies may struggle to survive with these new taxes in place, and oftentimes, the higher costs trickle down to the customers. When prices go up, though, customers get mad, so it can feel like there is no way to win in this situation.
Thankfully, there are legal ways to get around the tariffs or to limit their impact on your business so you don’t have to upcharge your customers to keep the business alive.
One of the ways that importers can reduce the impact of the tariffs is by utilizing a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). FTZs are places within the U.S. borders, close to ports of entry, where imported goods can be treated as though they are outside the U.S.
As long as the goods remain in storage in an FTZ, you would not need to pay the duties on the import. Once the products exit the FTZ and get introduced into U.S. commerce, then the duties would need to be paid.
Now, that might not seem like a great solution. After all, the duties still need to be paid no matter what. However, this kind of strategy can be tremendously beneficial, especially to small businesses. Utilizing an FTZ can allow large quantities of products into the U.S. and clear customs, without having to pay all the tariffs upfront. Then, as products are slowly pulled from the FTZ storage, the duties can be paid over time as the products enter U.S. commerce.
Similarly, bonded warehouses also function as a place where products can be stored duty-free for up to 5 years, under the supervision of the CBP. There, they can be slowly introduced into the market, undergo manufacturing operations, or re-exported again without having to pay any duties upfront.
If the products imported into the bonded warehouse are manufactured into a different product and then exported out of the U.S. again, then the duties would not need to be paid at all since the products never made it to U.S. consumers.
Being able to pay the duties over time, instead of all at once, makes them much more manageable. If you are having trouble factoring in the huge monetary burden, taking advantage of an FTZ or bonded warehouse could give you the time you need to pay off the duties over time, and still offer your customers the product costs they have come to expect.
If you know in advance that a product you sell is going to be included in the next wave of tariffs, take the initiative early on to apply for an exclusion request. Although it is more likely to be denied than granted, there’s a chance your request could be granted. If the reasons you give are compelling and honest, then you may end up being granted the exclusion.
However, product exclusions are not a perfect solution. Even though the product will be completely free from the 301 duties, the exclusion is only good for roughly a year after the exclusion decision is published. This means that after a year, you will need to start paying duties to import those products.
Granted, it can be helpful to have an extra year to factor that into the budget and prepare for the hefty tariffs. But eventually, you’re going to need to find a better solution if you want to limit the damages to your business.
From the time the tariff increases took effect in 2018 and throughout the add-ons and modifications, the USTR has continued to accept applications for exclusion requests. As of October 2020, more than 6,800 exclusion requests had been granted. While most expire within the year, some have been given extensions.
Depending on the exclusion request, the tariff exemption can apply to just the one importer with a specific product or the USTR can choose to add it to a list of products that any importer would be able to benefit from. Items that have been added to a list will remain exempt until the government’s specific expiration date.
As of March 2022, this status has been granted to 352 specific products from different lists.
These exclusions are separate from the ones granted to products on the Covid-19 exemptions list.
Anyone wishing to be granted an exception will have to apply specifically to the USTR. However, due to the expired status, it isn’t likely to be granted.
In October of 2021, a Federal Register notice was issued from the USTR that they may reinstate some of the expired exclusions. Anyone in the public may submit a comment requesting exclusions be brought back.
For a request in a comment to be considered, certain information needed to be provided.
Beyond this information, the USTR also studies how a particular exclusion may affect U.S. interests for better or worse.
On March 28, 2022, the USTR released another Federal Register notice that reinstates exclusions for 352 products of the original 549 that expired in 2021. The exclusions will remain in place until December 31, 2022.
Tariff exclusions will be retroactive to October 12, 2021. The exclusions will apply to imported goods meant for distribution in the U.S. and to goods that have been withdrawn from a bonded warehouse for distribution. Eligible goods needed to have been withdrawn on or after 12:01 AM eastern standard time on October 12, 2021, to qualify.
The previously granted exclusions that did not get reinstated can still be applied for individually, but only apply to a single importer for the span of one year.
In either case, you may wish to get the legal advice of a customs consultant or broker to determine if you are eligible for any refunds. If you paid an increased tariff to import a product whose exclusion status was reinstated, you may be able to get your money back.
Another option for some importers is duty drawback. Although the concept was covered briefly above, there’s a lot to know about the process. For starters, there are many different kinds of drawbacks, depending on the circumstances:
Those are just a few of the many types of drawbacks one can claim.
The CBP is not obligated to assist you if mistakes are made, so it is very important to understand the process well. With that said, as long as good records are kept of when the products were imported, exported, and sold, then the paper trail necessary to complete the drawback application should be easy to retrieve.
The most important documents involved in the process of applying for a drawback are proof of exportation, documents related to any manufacturing done in the U.S., and information on the importation of the goods and which refund is being claimed.
Since the importer of the goods is the individual that would receive the drawback funds, the original company that imported the goods might not be the entity receiving the drawback. If a company sells the products to an exporter to export, then the transaction would need to include a certificate of delivery to transfer the ownership and responsibility to the exporter.
Depending on the product, it may have been possible previously to skate through customs with an incorrect Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) code. As trade agreements developed, the consequences for improperly classifying goods became less severe since the duties for some products had been reduced to nothing.
Now though, the products affected by the tariff increases are defined by their HTSUS numbers. Although almost all products are now included in the section 301 tariffs, it could still be beneficial to reconfirm the classification of your products. You can do this yourself by submitting a classification request to the CBP or many customs brokers will assist with this task as well.
To submit a classification request, you will need to submit some specific information to the CBP, like:
Although this method may or may not save you money, it could save you a lot of time and certainly a lot of trouble. This can assist you in identifying if your product is excluded, or subject to 25% or 15% tax. It is extremely important now to ensure that you are using the correct classification for your goods. If you are misclassifying your products, and you are found to be paying the incorrect duties, serious consequences can occur.
If nothing else seems to work for you, and the 25% tariffs are simply too much for you to continue doing business in China, then the only reasonable option left is to move your outsourced manufacturing to another country. As a general rule, shifting manufacturing is a massive undertaking, especially for larger companies, but there are intermediary firms that are emerging in other Asian countries to assist with this move.
Some of the more popular options for moving manufacturing has been China’s neighboring countries in Asia, like India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia. However, Mexico is also emerging as a contender in the race to relocate U.S. companies.
Finally, there is one last little loophole that some companies may be able to take advantage of to avoid the increased tariff rate. Section 321 De Minimis shipments, also called Section 321 ACE Shipments, are the last opportunity for importing products duty-free.
In order to qualify for a duty-free shipment of goods, several requirements need to be met:
When filing an informal 321 De Minimis shipment, no customs bond is required and no duties need to be paid. However, customs will only release one 321 De Minimis shipment to one entity per day, which is not a practical solution for most large-scale companies.
If you're unsure which option to utilize to avoid or minimize section 301 duties, don't worry. Our team is here to help. When you consult with our licensed brokers, they evaluate your specific importing situation to determine the appropriate course of action. We believe that every importing scenario is unique and requires a customized approach to success.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
Section 301 tariff decisions are still being debated, and since the trade talks with China seem far from coming to a conclusion, it seems likely that the tariff decisions will change. Unfortunately for U.S. consumers and importers, however, the changes are likely not going to reverse the tariff increases that have already been established. If anything, the tariffs will be increased.
As changes happen, it is important to stay flexible. Diversify your supply chain and try to find ways in which you can quickly adapt to unexpected changes. Having a good plan for when things go wrong can put you ahead of your competitors, many of which could get wiped out by hiked tariffs.
Section 301 tariffs have disrupted the normal business operations of millions of companies, and many are scrambling to find ways to overcome the chaos. Many companies are fleeing China, devising illegal ways to circumvent the tariffs, or quitting altogether. To make sure your company doesn’t fall by the wayside, you’ll need a strong strategy for overcoming the increased costs. There is no perfect solution since every company will require a tailored plan to fit their individual business for customs clearance.
If you need help coming up with the perfect plan for your business to deal with Section 301 tariffs, our dedicated team of consultants can help. With years of professional industry experience, our team can assist you in putting together the perfect strategy to help your business survive these difficult times.
Use the button below to schedule a customs consulting session with one of our import experts or give us a call at (855)912-0406.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers have helped clients receive millions in 301 refunds.
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DO Samples still qualify for section 301 tariffs .. example 9817.85.01
Hi
Can you tell me what import rules I need to know to import resin and hardener kits for artists?
Is there a chemical registration body I need to apply to?
Also do you assist non US residents with importing?
Thanks