[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4171-4172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00865]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of Amendment to Product Exclusion and Product Exclusion 
Extension: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology 
Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Effective September 24, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative 
imposed additional duties on goods of China with an annual trade value 
of approximately $200 billion as part of the action in the Section 301 
investigation of China's acts, policies, and practices related to 
technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. On June 24, 
2019, the U.S. Trade Representative established a process by which U.S. 
stakeholders could request the exclusion of particular products subject 
to the action. The exclusions granted under the $200 billion action 
were scheduled to expire on August 7, 2020. On May 6 and June 3, 2020, 
the U.S. Trade Representative invited the public to comment on whether 
to extend particular exclusions. On August 11, 2020, the U.S. Trade 
Representative announced its determination to extend certain previously 
granted exclusions. This notice announces the U.S. Trade 
Representatives determination to make a technical amendment to a 
previously granted exclusion and the extension to that exclusion.

DATES: The product exclusion amendment announced in annex A of this 
notice will apply from September 24, 2018 to August 7, 2020. The 
product exclusion extension amendment announced in annex B of this 
notice will apply from August 7, 2020 and continue through December 31, 
2020. This notice does not further extend the period for product 
exclusions or extensions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue 
instructions on entry guidance and implementation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about this 
notice, contact Associate General Counsel Philip Butler or Assistant 
General Counsel Benjamin Allen, or Director of Industrial Goods Justin 
Hoffmann at (202) 395-5725. For specific questions on customs 
classification or implementation of the product exclusions identified 
in the Annex to this notice, contact [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    For background on the proceedings in this investigation, please see 
prior notices including 82 FR 40213 (August 24, 2017), 83 FR 14906 
(April 6, 2018), 83 FR 28710 (June 20, 2018), 83 FR 33608 (July 17, 
2018), 83 FR 38760 (August 7, 2018), 83 FR 47974 (September 21, 2018), 
83 FR 49153 (September 28, 2018), 83 FR 65198 (December 19, 2018), 84 
FR 7966 (March 5, 2019), 84 FR 20459 (May 9, 2019), 84 FR 29576 (June 
24, 2019), 84 FR 38717 (August 7, 2019), 84 FR 46212 (September 3, 
2019), 84 FR 49591 (September 20, 2019), 84 FR 57803 (October 28, 
2019), 84 FR 61674 (November 13, 2019), 84 FR 65882 (November 29, 
2019), 84 FR 69012 (December 17, 2019), 85 FR 549 (January 6, 2020), 85 
FR 6674 (February 5, 2020), 85 FR 9921 (February 20, 2020), 85 FR 15015 
(March 16, 2020), 85 FR 17158 (March 26, 2020), 85 FR 23122 (April 24, 
2020), 85 FR 27011 (May 6, 2020), 85 FR 27489 (May 8, 2020), 85 FR 
32094 (May 28, 2020), 85 FR 34279 (June 3, 2020), 85 FR 38000 (June 24, 
2020), 85 FR 42968 (July 15, 2020), 85 FR 48600 (August 11, 2020), 85 
FR 52188 (August 24, 2020), 85 FR 57925 (September 16, 2020), 85 FR 
63329 (October 7, 2020), 85 FR 63332 (October 7, 2020).
    Effective September 24, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed 
additional 10 percent ad valorem duties on goods of China classified in 
5,757 full and partial subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTSUS), with an approximate annual trade value of 
$200 billion. See 83 FR 47974, as modified by 83 FR 49153. In May 2019, 
the U.S. Trade Representative increased the additional duty to 25 
percent. See 84 FR 20459. On June 24, 2019, the U.S. Trade 
Representative established a process by which stakeholders could 
request exclusion of particular products classified within an 8-digit 
HTSUS subheading covered by the $200 billion action from the additional 
duties. See 84 FR 29576 (June 24 notice). The U.S. Trade Representative 
issued a notice setting out the process for the product exclusions and 
opened a public docket. The exclusions the U.S. Trade Representative 
granted under the $200 billion action expired on August 7, 2020. See 84 
FR 38717 (August 7, 2019).
    On May 6 and June 3, 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative invited 
the public to comment on whether to extend by up to 12 months, 
particular exclusions granted under the $200 billion action. See 85 FR 
27011 (May 6, 2020); 85 FR 34279 (June 3, 2020). On August 11, 2020, 
the U.S. Trade Representative

[[Page 4172]]

announced its determination to extend certain previously granted 
exclusions See 85 FR 48600 (August 11, 2020).

B. Technical Amendment to an Exclusion

    Annex A contains one technical amendment to U.S. note 20(qq)(25) to 
subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as established in the annex 
of the notice published at 85 FR 6674 (February 5, 2020).

Annex A

    Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or 
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. 
eastern daylight time on September 24, 2018, and before August 7, 2020, 
U.S. note 20(qq)(25) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States is modified by deleting ``zinc 
oxide absorbent'' and by inserting ``zinc oxide'' in lieu thereof.

C. Technical Amendment to an Exclusion Extension

    Annex B contains one technical amendment to U.S. note 20(iii)(54), 
to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as established in the 
annex of the notice published at 85 FR 48600 (August 11, 2020).

Annex B

    Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or 
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. 
eastern daylight time on August 7, 2020, and through December 31, 2020, 
U.S. note 20(iii)(54) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States is modified by deleting ``zinc 
oxide absorbent'' and by inserting ``zinc oxide'' in lieu thereof.

Joseph Barloon.
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2021-00865 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P