CSMS 41998518·Trade policy·March 12, 2020·View on csms.cbp.gov ↗

GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 3 - $200B Ninth Round of Product Exclusions from China

Plain-English explanation

CSMS 41998518 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin (trade policy), published on March 12, 2020. It carries the official CBP guidance brokers and importers must follow for the topic — "GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 3 - $200B Ninth Round of Product Exclusions from China". CSMS messages are the operational layer between Commerce determinations and at-the-border collections: when Commerce publishes a new rate, scope ruling, or instruction, CBP turns it into a CSMS that ACE/ACS systems and brokers act on.

Message body

Full text as published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CSMS #41998518 - GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 3 - $ 200B Ninth Round of Product Exclusions from China U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 03/12/2020 03:53 PM EDT Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS #41998518 - GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 3 - $ 200B Ninth Round of Product Exclusions from China BACKGROUND On February 20, 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published Federal Register (FR) Notice 85 FR 9921 announcing the decision to grant the ninth round of certain exclusion requests from the Section 301 duty related to goods from China ($ 200B Action - Tranche 3) 83 FR 47974 . These product exclusions relate to the imposed additional duties announced in 83 FR 47974 on Chinese goods with an annual trade value of approximately $ 200 billion. The product exclusions announced in 85 FR 9921 retroactively apply as of the September 24, 2018 effective date of the $ 200 billion action (Tranche 3), and will extend through August 7, 2020. The exclusions are available for any product that meets the description as set out in Annex A to Federal Register Notice 85 FR 9921, regardless of whether the importer filed an exclusion request. Further, the scope of each exclusion is governed by the scope of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 10-digit headings and product descriptions in the Annex; not by the product descriptions set out in any particular request for exclusion. For ease of reference, a link to the entire Federal Register Notice is embedded in this message. The functionality for the acceptance of the ninth round of products of China excluded from Section 301 duties will be available in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) as of 7am eastern time, March 12, 2020. GUIDANCE Instructions for importers, brokers, and filers on submitting entries to CBP containing products granted exclusions by the USTR from the Section 301 measures as set out in 85 FR 9921 are as follow: In addition to reporting the regular Chapters 28, 29, 40, 42, 44, 52, 54, 55, 56, 60, 65, 73, 76, 82, 83, 84, 85 and 94 classifications of the HTSUS for the imported merchandise, importers shall report the HTSUS classification 9903.88.40 (Articles the product of China, as provided for in U.S. note 20(ss) to this subchapter, each covered by an exclusion granted by the U.S. Trade Representative) for imported merchandise subject to the exclusion). Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTS number for the Section 301 duties when HTS 9903.88.40 is submitted. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Imports which have been granted a product exclusion from the Section 301 measures, and which are not subject to the Section 301 duties, are not covered by the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) provisions of the Section 301 Federal Register notices, but instead are subject to the FTZ provisions in 19 CFR part 146. Duty exclusions granted by the USTR are retroactive for imports on or after the initial effective date of September 24, 2018. To request a refund of Section 301 duties paid on previous imports of products granted duty exclusions by the USTR, importers may file a Post Summary Correction (PSC) if within the PSC filing timeframe. If the entry is beyond the PSC filing timeframe, importers may protest the liquidation. Reminder: When importers, brokers, and/or filers are submitting an entry summary in which a heading or subheading in Chapter 99 is claimed on imported merchandise, refer them to CSMS 39587858 (Entry Summary Order of Reporting for Multiple HTS when 98 or 99 HTS are required). For ease of reference, a summary of Section 301 duties and product exclusion notifications are provided below: Questions from the importing community concerning ACE entry rejections involving product exclusions should be referred to their CBP Client Representative. Questions related to Section 301 entry-filing requirements, please refer to CSMS message #40969690 (Information on Trade Remedy Questions and Resources) https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCBP/bulletins/27125da Related CSMS Messages: #48134749, 40003027, 40002982, 40001360, 19-000052, 41702837, 41179115, 41052773, 41538917, 40984510, 40901928, 49710742, 40330403, 40208881, 40969690, 40564257, 39587690, 39587858, 39473933, 39268267, 93169565, 38840764, 19-000332, 19-000260, 19-000244, 19-000238, 19-000236, 19-000212 Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page . You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com . This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Customs and Border Protection . Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes. Powered by Privacy Policy | Cookie Statement | Help

Frequently asked questions

What is CSMS 41998518?

CSMS 41998518 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin titled "GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 3 - $200B Ninth Round of Product Exclusions from China". CSMS bulletins are the operational instructions CBP issues to brokers, importers, and ACE filers covering rate changes, system updates, scope guidance, and other day-to-day customs-operations changes.

When was CSMS 41998518 published?

CBP published CSMS 41998518 on March 12, 2020. The bulletin's instructions are typically operative as of the publication date unless the body specifies a different effective date.

Is the CBP CSMS the legally binding instruction?

Yes — for at-the-border filing and entry collection. CSMS messages translate Commerce's Federal Register determinations into operational CBP instructions that ACE/ACS systems and brokers execute. The Federal Register notice is the underlying legal authority; the CSMS is the operational implementation. Both should be read together when reconciling a rate or scope change.

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