Partial tariff relief – again – for US shredder wear parts from China

Shredder wear parts from China have again been spared from some of the import tariffs being imposed by the United States.

On 2 September, the Office of the US Trade Representative announced a new three-month extension for 178 products which are excluded from Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. The extension includes imports of shredder wear parts under HTS code 8479.90.9596. This latest exclusion expires on 30 November.

In mid-August, the US Department of Commerce had released a list of aluminium- and steel-containing products that will be subject to the Section 232 national security tariffs of 50%. They included shredder wear parts as well as lifters, material handlers and loading conveyors. Shredder wear parts were also due to incur a further 25% under the longer-standing Section 301 tariffs until they were exempt for a further three months.

Repeated relief

This is not the first time. The US recycling organisation ReMA notes the exclusion has been routinely extended since Section 301 tariffs for Chinese products were imposed in 2018, with the most recent extension ending 31 August.

According to a ReMA notification: ‘Shredder wear parts imported under this HTS code were added to the Section 232 steel derivatives list effective 18 August, which now subjects these imports to 50% duty. If this Section 301 exclusion had not been extended, it would have stacked on top of the Section 232 steel derivative tariff.’