USTR grants tariff exclusions amid fight against COVID-19

As U.S. Federal Agencies continue to combat and administer the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) granted tariff exclusions to products listed on List 3 of Section 301 tariffs on March 20. Prioritizing the health considerations of its nationals, the USTR will lift tariffs on critical goods like ventilators, oxygen masks, nubilators, among others. 

These product tariff exclusions will apply to any product that meets the descriptions in the provided Annex to each type of product. To secure refunds and interest, importers can file a Post-Summary Corrections or Protests form for recent entries that are now covered by the List 3 product exclusion. 

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the USTR and the Department of Health and Human Services joined to make sure that critical medicine and other essential medical equipment / goods were not subject to any Section 301 tariffs. These products included MRI device parts, combined PET/CT scanners, radiation therapy equipment, air purification machines, and parts of home care beds, and more. So in a way, this is an extension of those exclusions from last year. 

Keeping the Coronavirus developments at the forefront of their operations, the USTR has opened an active docket for the public, businesses, and governmental agencies to submit their input for the further exemptions to the 301 tariffs for a later review and possible passing exclusions. 

Additional Details: 

LIST 3: The exclusions granted to List 3 products are shown in 1 ten-digit HTS subheading that covers one exclusion request and 176 specially-prepared product descriptions. The latter covers 202 separate exclusion requests which are explained in the Annex to the notice. The exclusions will apply as far back as September 24 of 2018 and will be effective until August 7 of 2020.