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On February 15, 2019, the President of the United States signed a mini-omnibus bill which requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to introduce an exclusion process for Section 301 List 3 products to Congress by March 17, 2019. The tariffs on List 3 products are currently set at 10 percent and are scheduled to increase to 25 percent on March 2, 2019.

In an explanatory statement accompanying the appropriations legislation, the USTR office was directed to establish a List 3 exclusion process “following the same procedures as those in rounds 1 and 2”.

For more information please contact your local MIQ Logistics representative.

On January 11, 2019, in letters to lawmakers, United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer made clear that an exclusion process will not be initiated for the Section 301 List 3 products unless negotiations with China fail and the tariff on $200 Billion is raised from 10% to 25%. This increase is currently scheduled for March 2, 2019.

Lighthizer went on to address a request to exempt Chinese goods admitted into Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ’s) by noting, “the longstanding rules and practices governing such entries continue to apply.” He continued, “As of this time, we have not found a basis for exempting U.S. importers who use FTZ’s from the additional duties when those duties apply to all other U.S. importers.”

For more information please contact your local MIQ Logistics representative.

U.S. West Coast ports, specifically Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals, continue to experience heavy congestion due to the unprecedented volumes arriving in the U.S. in anticipation of the upcoming Lunar New Year and the pending tariff changes. Containers are sitting longer than normal, and once the containers are out-gated, many are staying out longer than normal. These delays are contributing to chassis shortages in the area.

Key contributing factors:

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising that after March 22, 2019, all regulated composite wood products (i.e., panels) created from binding strands, particles, fibers, veneers, or boards of wood together with adhesives (i.e., glues), including hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard (includes thin-MDF), and particleboard must be certified and labeled as compliant with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI. All labels must include the panel producer’s name, lot number, and an EPA-recognized TSCA Title VI third-party certification (TPC) number. All importers will be responsible for providing a positive TSCA Import Certification for all applicable shipments, which will be transmitted to CBP via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Upon request by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), importers must make available within thirty (30) calendar days certain records that document compliance with this rule. Recordkeeping requirements apply.

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