The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice exempting Section 301 tariffs for certain List 4A products (imports from China with an annual trade value of $300 billion). The exemptions cover 61 specially prepared product descriptions, covering a total of 86 separate exclusion requests. These exclusions will apply from September 1, 2019, through September 1, 2020, and apply to any product that satisfies the description in the annex of the Federal Register notice, regardless of whether the company using the exclusion filed the request. Each exclusion is governed by the scope of the HTS heading and the product description appearing in the annex of the exclusion notice; it is not governed by the product description set out in any particular exclusion request.

The product exclusions include: cynomolgus macaques; certain feathers used for stuffing; silicone baby bottle nipples; certain compressive eye masks; certain plastic shower heads; certain A-frame or sandwich board signs; certain tapered sound-dampening ear plugs; certain types of wallpaper; certain printed art or pictorial books of limited value; certain dust, pillow, comforter or other fabric covers or shells; certain bike helmets; certain bars, rods, tubes of stainless steel; certain household sewing machines; certain gas- or propane-powered augers; certain digital cameras; certain protective eyeglasses or other non-prescription spectacles; certain prism binoculars; rotary microtomes; certain acoustic upright and grand pianos; certain acoustic guitars with soundboards; harp sharping levers of steel; certain parts of child safety seats; pillow shells and quilted pillow shells of cotton or man-made fibers; arrowheads of metal; certain spinning, spincast or baitcast fishing reels; certain hand paintings or drawings; certain original engravings, prints and lithographs; certain sculptures and statuary; postage stamps; certain collections of historical or mineralogical interest; and antique silverware and furniture of an age exceeding 100 years.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon issue instructions on entry guidance and implementation. The USTR will continue to issue determinations on pending requests on a periodic basis.