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  1. AD/CVD Catalog
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  5. CSMS 42049352
CSMS 42049352·Trade policy·March 17, 2020·View on csms.cbp.gov ↗

GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 4A - $300B Second Round of Product Exclusions from China (9903.88.42)

Plain-English explanation

CSMS 42049352 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin (trade policy), published on March 17, 2020. It carries the official CBP guidance brokers and importers must follow for the topic — "GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 4A - $300B Second Round of Product Exclusions from China (9903.88.42)". 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 #42049352 - GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 4A - $ 300B Second Round of Product Exclusions from China (9903.88.42) U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 03/17/2020 09:33 AM EDT   Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS #42049352 - GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 4A - $ 300B Second Round of Product Exclusions from China (9903.88.42) BACKGROUND The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) made the decision to grant certain exclusion requests from the Section 301 duty on goods covered under list 1/Annex A ($ 300B Action - Tranche 4) 84 FR 43304 . These product exclusions relate to the imposed additional duties announced in 84 FR 43304 and 84 FR 45821 on Chinese goods with an annual aggregate trade value of approximately $ 300 billion. The product exclusions will retroactively apply as of the September 1, 2019 with the effective date of the $ 300 billion action (Tranche 4A), and will extend through September 1, 2020. The exclusions are available for any product that meets the description in the Annex (see attachment), 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 described in the Annex, and not by the product descriptions set out in any particular request for exclusion. The functionality for the acceptance of the imported merchandise covered under the second round of products excluded from the Section 301 Tranche 4A-$ 300B Action will be available in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) as of 7am eastern standard time, March 16, 2020. GUIDANCE The exclusions are reflected in 19 specifically prepared product descriptions, which covered 39 separate exclusion request. Instructions for importers, brokers, and filers on submitting entries to CBP are set out below. • In addition to reporting the regular Chapters 39, 63, 84 and 90 classifications of the HTSUS for the imported merchandise, importers shall report the HTSUS classification 9903.88.42 (Articles the product of China, as provided for in U.S. note 20(uu) 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 9903.88.42 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 1, 2019. 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   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 42049352?

CSMS 42049352 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin titled "GUIDANCE: Section 301 Tranche 4A - $300B Second Round of Product Exclusions from China (9903.88.42)". 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 42049352 published?

CBP published CSMS 42049352 on March 17, 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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