Certain Nonwoven Fabric on Latest China 301 Exclusion List

On March 16, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published in the Federal Register (85 FR 15015) Notice of Product Exclusions: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. This notice includes five more 10-digit statistical reporting numbers in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. that are being excluded from Tranche 3 China 301 tariffs:

3923.21.0030,

3923.21.0095,

3926.20.9050,

4015.19.1010, and

5603.12.0090.

The final classification, 5603.12.0090, relates to Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated: Of man-made filaments: Weighing more than 25 g/m2 but not more than 70 g/m2: OTHER THAN impregnated, coated or covered with material other than or in addition to rubber, plastics, wood pulp or glass fibers, or "imitation suede."

Petitions relating to this classification were filed by:

1. NORTHERN PACIFIC FIBERS LLC
2. Nutex Concepts of North Carolina Corp
3. Oxco, Inc.
4. Medline Industries, Inc.
5. Crown Awards
6. Jobe's Company
7. Fluvitex USA Inc
8. U.S. Nonwovens Corp.

The requests related to nonwovens for a range of applications, including bedding, upholstery, automotive, and building materials, but the most frequently cited use was in health care. Approval of these request follows a history of approvals for articles critical to health care. Importers of the nonwoven for non-health care uses will also get the benefit of the exclusion because Customs cannot know at the time of importation what the final use of an article will be.