The miscellaneous tariff bill, which included items requested by AFI, was passed by Congress over the weekend. Its provisions become effective 15 days after it is signed by the president. AFI thanks Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg for its work on this bill.
Oysters, other than smoked, prepared or preserved, (HTS# 1605.90.50), currently with a duty of 4.7 percent, will soon be brought in under HTS# 9902.23.08 and will be duty free.
It’s important to note duty reductions obtained through a miscellaneous tariff bill are temporary. That’s why AFI had to go back to Congress this year to seek an extension of the duty reductions obtained a few years ago on processed artichokes. Congress still looks at the total revenue loss, so the duty on artichokes prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid will rise from 7.5 percent to 7.9 percent. If AFI had not acted, the duty would have reverted to 10.2 percent, the level before the reduction. The duty on artichokes prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid remains at 13.8 percent. If AFI had not acted, the duty would have reverted to 14.9 percent.
Important Note for Artichoke Importers
As mentioned above, the provisions of this bill go into effect 15 days after it is signed by the president. If the president signs the bill this week, there will be no lapse. We’ve heard the president might not sign the bill until Dec. 20. If that happens, entries made between Jan. 1 and Jan. 5 would be subject to the 10.2 percent and 14.9 percent duties. We will send a notice out as soon as the president signs the bill.
While the miscellaneous tariff bill was included in a larger bill that contained items such as GSP extension and Andean Tract Act extension, the miscellaneous tariff bill is the only part of the legislation that has a 15-day delay before implementation. Everything else goes into effect once the bill is signed by the president.
