Trade Cases
June 21, 2018
Codes a Source of Disharmony in Tariff Exclusion Process
Written by Tim Triplett
The Commerce Department’s procedure for filing requests to have products excluded from the Section 232 steel tariffs has been called confusing and burdensome by many companies, some of which have been thwarted in their attempts to file. Applications can be rejected for something as simple as an inaccurate Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code.
In testimony Wednesday before the Senate Finance Committee, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross defended the requirement that companies provide HTS codes for each product. They must do so individually rather than through their trade associations, which are barred from applying for exclusion requests. Allowing associations to file would just add another step to the process, Ross said.
