The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced new Section 301 tariffs, or duties, on specific European Union (EU) products, effective October 18, 2019. This announcement is a result of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) decision to award the U.S. $7.5 billion in trade countermeasures against the EU for subsidies provided to Airbus.
In response, the U.S. has elected to implement Section 301 tariffs on $7.5 billion of EU products.
The list of products targeted by the U.S. is divided into 15 sections by country and product; it contains 150 tariff lines found at the eight-digit HTS number level.
A 10 percent additional Section 301 duty will apply on imports of new airplanes and other aircrafts (of Harmonized Tariff Schedule HTS 8802.40.00) which are of France, Germany, Spain, or UK origin. All other listed products will attract a 25% Section 301 duty upon import to the U.S. The 25% duty will be levied on some of Europe’s most well-known foods, beverages, and consumer products including Irish and Scotch whiskey, French wines, Italian cheeses, Greek yogurt, Spanish olives, and German hand tools.
The USTR has advised product exclusions will not be granted for these Section 301 EU tariffs.
The EU has stated its intent to retaliate with its own tariffs on American products while it awaits a separate WTO ruling next year concerning its complaint that Boeing, a U.S. manufacturer and Airbus rival, also received improper government support.
Updated EU Section 301 information will be provided as it is made available. Given the very wide range of products that will be covered by this tariff announcement, importers are encouraged to carefully review the specific impact to their import program.
Please contact your local Delmar Representative or email our U.S. Customs Advisory Services Group for additional information and assistance.
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