Source: CBP

Feb 3, 2025

Cargo Systems Messaging Service

CSMS # 63988468 – GUIDANCE: Additional Duties on Imports from China

The purpose of this message is to provide guidance on the additional duties on imports that are the products of China, pursuant to the Executive Order issued on February 1, 2025 (EO).  As directed by the EO, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice in the Federal Register implementing the additional duties.  As explained in the Federal Register Notice, for purposes of the additional duties imposed by the EO, articles that are the product of China, include products of Hong Kong in accordance with Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong Normalization.  See the Federal Register Notice and 85 FR 43413 (July 17, 2020).

As directed by the EO, the additional duties imposed on imports that are the products of China, including products of Hong Kong, will be assessed on covered imports regardless of value, and shipments containing such merchandise are no longer eligible for the “de minimis” administrative exemption from duty and certain tax at 19 U.S.C. § 1321(a)(2)(C).

GUIDANCE

Effective with respect to goods that are the product of China and Hong Kong entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 4, 2025, the following HTSUS classifications and additional duty rates apply:

9903.01.20:  All imports of articles that are products of China and Hong Kong, other than products classifiable under headings 9903.01.21, 9903.01.22, and 9903.01.23, and other than products for personal use included in accompanied baggage of persons arriving in the United States – an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10%.

For the following products excluded from the additional duties, one of the following HTS classifications apply:

9903.01.21:  Articles the product of China and Hong Kong that are donations, by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, of articles, such as food, clothing, and medicine, intended to be used to relieve human suffering.

9903.01.22:  Articles the product of China and Hong Kong that are informational materials, including but not limited to, publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds.

9903.01.23:  Except for products described in headings 9903.01.21 and 9903.01.22, and other than products for personal use included in accompanied baggage of persons arriving in the United States, articles the product of China and Hong Kong that: (1) were loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading, or in transit on the final mode of transport prior to entry into the United States, before 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 1, 2025; and (2) are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 4, 2025, and before 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 7, 2025.

The additional ad valorem duty provided for in new HTSUS heading 9903.01.20 applies in addition to all other applicable duties (including antidumping and countervailing duties), taxes, fees, exactions, and charges.

CHAPTER 98

The additional duties imposed by heading 9903.01.20 shall not apply to goods for which entry is properly claimed under a provision of chapter 98 of the tariff schedule pursuant to applicable regulations of CBP, and whenever CBP agrees that entry under such a provision is appropriate, except for goods entered under heading 9802.00.80; and subheadings 9802.00.40, 9802.00.50, and 9802.00.60.  For subheadings 9802.00.40, 9802.00.50, and 9802.00.60, the additional duties apply to the value of repairs, alterations, or processing performed (in China and Hong Kong), as described in the applicable subheading.  For heading 9802.00.80, the additional duties apply to the value of the article assembled abroad (in China and Hong Kong), less the cost or value of such products of the United States, as described.

FOREIGN TRADE ZONE

Articles that are products of China and Hong Kong, excluding those encompassed by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b), except those that are eligible for admission to a foreign trade zone under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, and are admitted into a United States foreign trade zone on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 4, 2025, must be admitted as “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41.  Such articles will be subject, upon entry for consumption, to the duties imposed by this order and the rates of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading in effect at the time of admission into the United States foreign trade zone.

DRAWBACK

No drawback is available with respect to the additional duties imposed pursuant to the Executive Order, as implemented in the Federal Register Notice.

DE MINIMIS

Pursuant to the Executive Order, and as implemented in the Federal Register Notice, certain products of China and Hong Kong are no longer eligible for the administrative exemption from duty and certain tax at 19 U.S.C. § 1321(a)(2)(C), and are subject to additional ad valorem rates of duty.  Accordingly, effective February 4, 2025, such goods may not receive so-called “de minimis” clearance and enter duty and tax free.  Requests for de minimis entry and clearance for ineligible shipments will be rejected.  The filer/importer has the option of filing an appropriate formal or other informal entry and paying all applicable duties, taxes and fees.

CBP will provide additional technical guidance to the trade community through CSMS messages as appropriate.

If you encounter any errors in filing an entry summary, contact your CBP client representative or the ACE Help Desk.