In the Sept. 25 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 53, No. 34), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment for headboards, footboards and side rails imported in separate shipments, and steel tubing.

The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Oct. 2. The most recent ruling is dated Oct. 1. The following headquarters rulings not involving carriers were modified on Oct. 2, according to CBP:

Cars assembled by Volvo in Sweden as part of a “knockdown operation” using subassemblies manufactured in China are products of China and are subject to Section 301 tariffs, CBP said in a recent ruling. The “complex assembly process” occurs in China, not Sweden, so that’s where substantial transformation happens for the purposes of determining country of origin, CBP said in HQ H302821, issued July 26 and published by CBP on Oct. 2.

Of 15 categories of Chinese-sourced Mac Pro components Apple sought exclusions from 25 percent Section 301 List 3 tariffs in July (see 1907260027), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative granted 10, agency records show. Of the five denials, USTR rejected all because Apple “failed to show that the imposition of additional duties on the particular product would cause severe economic harm to you or other U.S. interests,” said Sept. 23 notices posted Monday and searchable in the public docket. The denials were for Mac Pro CPU heat sinks, BIOS printed circuit boards, AC power cables, caster wheel assemblies and data cables, said the docket. Waivers were granted on the 10 other requests in mid-September. Apple didn’t comment.

Of 15 categories of Chinese-sourced Mac Pro components Apple sought exclusions from 25 percent Section 301 List 3 tariffs in July (see 1907260027), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative granted 10, agency records show. Of the five denials, USTR rejected all because Apple “failed to show that the imposition of additional duties on the particular product would cause severe economic harm to you or other U.S. interests,” said Sept. 23 notices posted Monday and searchable in the public docket. The denials were for Mac Pro CPU heat sinks, BIOS printed circuit boards, AC power cables, caster wheel assemblies and data cables, said the docket. Waivers were granted on the 10 other requests in mid-September. Apple didn’t comment.

Of 15 categories of Chinese-sourced Mac Pro components Apple sought exclusions from 25 percent Section 301 List 3 tariffs in July (see 1907260027), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative granted 10, agency records show. Of the five denials, USTR rejected all because Apple “failed to show that the imposition of additional duties on the particular product would cause severe economic harm to you or other U.S. interests,” said Sept. 23 notices posted Monday and searchable in the public docket. The denials were for Mac Pro CPU heat sinks, BIOS printed circuit boards, AC power cables, caster wheel assemblies and data cables, said the docket. Waivers were granted on the 10 other requests in mid-September. Apple didn’t comment.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative granted 10 of 15 categories of Chinese-sourced Mac Pro components Apple sought to have excluded from 25 percent Section 301 List 3 tariffs in July (see 1907260036), agency records show. Of the five denials, USTR rejected all because Apple “failed to show that the imposition of additional duties on the particular product would cause severe economic harm to you or other U.S. interests,” said Sept. 23 notices posted recently in the public docket. The denials were for Mac Pro CPU heat sinks, BIOS printed circuit boards, AC power cables, caster wheel assemblies and data cables, the docket shows. Waivers were granted on the 10 other requests in mid-September. Apple didn’t comment.

More than a dozen companies and business groups have submitted comments ahead of an Oct. 2 hearing on how China is complying with World Trade Organization protocols -- and they all agree China has work to do.

CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1916 on Oct. 1, containing 76 Automated Broker Interface records and 18 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update includes recently announced exclusions and other changes related to the Section 301 tariffs (see 1909180004). Another change is related to the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, CBP said. Modifications required by the verification of the 2019 HTS and to support partner government agency message set functionality are included as well.

Football fans will “need to be aware” this fall that Section 301 tariffs ranging from 15 to 30 percent on Chinese goods “will drive up the price of everything from footballs and TVs to portable grills and fanwear,” blogged the National Retail Federation Monday. “Fans who prefer to watch the game from the comfort of their couch won’t be spared,” said NRF. “Americans would pay $711 million more than they otherwise would for a television hit with 25 percent tariffs,” it said, citing a Trade Partnership report it commissioned in June. Tariffs of 15 percent took effect Sept. 1 on finished TVs from China, among other goods on List 4A. “Think of these tariffs as 15- to 30-yard penalties between you and the goal of a fun weekend afternoon with your favorite team,” said NRF. “As you take a break during halftime, take a moment to tell Congress to end the trade war and remove all tariffs.”