CBP is apparently working on a regulatory change that would eliminate the $800 de minimis exemption for goods subject to Section 301 tariffs. The agency on Sept. 2 submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a proposed rule titled, “Excepting Merchandise Subject to Section 301 Duties from the Customs De Minimis Exemption,” according to OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website. OMB’s reviews are the final step before publication of a rule, and include an interagency review. CBP did not immediately comment.

CBP is apparently working on a regulatory change that would eliminate the $800 de minimis exemption for goods subject to Section 301 tariffs. The agency on Sept. 2 submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a proposed rule titled “Excepting Merchandise Subject to Section 301 Duties from the Customs De Minimis Exemption,” according to OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.

The Court of International Trade on Sept. 2 declined to order the release of an importer’s entries that were detained by CBP on country of origin concerns, finding the uncertainty around its own contradictory line of cases on substantial transformation was a factor in denying the bid for a preliminary injunction.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative extended List 4 Section 301 tariff exclusions to Dec. 31 on 87 Harmonized Tariff Schedule categories of Chinese imports, including LCD TV main board assemblies (HTS 8529.90.1300) and modules (HTS 9013.80.9000) that Element Electronics sources to assemble finished sets in South Carolina for sale through Walmart and other big-box retailers (see 2006090056). The exclusions were to expire Tuesday. Also extended were exclusions on smartwatches, fitness trackers and Bluetooth tracking devices (HTS 8517.62.0090), plus wireless audio receivers for smart speakers (HTS 8518.22.0000). USTR will let expire more than half the 200 exclusions it granted.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative extended List 4 Section 301 tariff exclusions to Dec. 31 on 87 Harmonized Tariff Schedule categories of Chinese imports, including LCD TV main board assemblies (HTS 8529.90.1300) and modules (HTS 9013.80.9000) that Element Electronics sources to assemble finished sets in South Carolina for sale through Walmart and other big-box retailers (see 2006090056). The exclusions were to expire Tuesday. Also extended were exclusions on smartwatches, fitness trackers and Bluetooth tracking devices (HTS 8517.62.0090), plus wireless audio receivers for smart speakers (HTS 8518.22.0000). USTR will let expire more than half the 200 exclusions it granted.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative extended List 4 Section 301 tariff exclusions to Dec. 31 on 87 Harmonized Tariff Schedule categories of Chinese imports, including LCD TV main board assemblies (HTS 8529.90.1300) and modules (HTS 9013.80.9000) that Element Electronics sources to assemble finished sets in South Carolina for sale through Walmart and other big-box retailers (see 2006090056). The exclusions were to expire Tuesday. Also extended were exclusions on smartwatches, fitness trackers and Bluetooth tracking devices (HTS 8517.62.0090), plus wireless audio receivers for smart speakers (HTS 8518.22.0000). USTR will let expire more than half the 200 exclusions it granted.

The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Aug. 24-30:

CBP will add the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with recently excluded goods in the third tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Sept. 3, it said in a CSMS message. The official Office of the U.S. Trade Representative notice for the exclusions was published Aug. 24 (see 2008210003). The two exclusions are in subheading 9903.88.48. The exclusions are available for any product that meets the description in the Annex to USTR’s notice, regardless of whether the importer filed an exclusion request. The product exclusions are already expired but will apply retroactively to Sept. 24, 2018, the date the tariffs on the third list took effect, and through Aug. 7, 2020. The CSMS message also includes a summary of Section 301 duties that shows information on each tranche of tariffs and granted product exclusions.

The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Aug. 28. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:

With a month left to go before the expiration of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act benefits program, some lobbyists are starting to worry that a renewal won't get done. Beth Hughes, vice president of trade and customs policy for the American Apparel and Footwear Association, said Aug. 31 that her organization has been contacting the trade staffers at the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee since April or May, reminding them that the expiration is coming up. About a month ago, the trade staffers from both chambers were telling her that while they are aware of the deadline, they wanted to make sure that the administration supports renewal.