On October 31, 2019, in Federal Register Notice 84 FR 58427, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office announced that they are considering a possible extension of particular exclusions granted under the December 2018 Product Exclusion Notice, which are set to expire on December 28, 2019. The USTR is inviting public comments on whether to extend the particular exclusions.

Comments must be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/, referencing Docket Number USTR-2019-0019. All commenters are encouraged to use the Exclusion Extension Comment Form A, which is provided on the site. If you have Business Confidential (BC) information, you are requested to also complete the Exclusion Extension Comment Form B and submit both Forms A and B via email to 301bcisubmissions@ustr.eop.gov.

The deadline for submitting requests for extension is November 30, 2019.

The evaluation will focus on whether the product continues to be available only from China, despite the imposition of the tariffs effective in July 2018. Submissions must address the following:

Whether the particular product and/or a comparable product is available from sources in the United States and/or in third countries.
Any changes in the global supply chain since July 2018 with respect to the particular product, or any other relevant industry developments.
The efforts, if any, the importers or U.S. purchasers have undertaken since July 2018 to source the product from the United States or third countries.
Whether the imposition of additional duties on the products covered by the exclusion will result in severe economic harm to the commenter or other U.S. interests.

For more information, please contact your local Noatum Logistics USA (Formerly MIQ Logistics) representative.