USTR Announces Amendment to Product Exclusion

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2026-10-07 – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice regarding changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). These changes came into effect on July 1, 2026.

The changes were made by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). They updated the statistical reporting categories of the HTSUS. This impacts product exclusions related to the Section 301 investigation of China’s technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation policies.

Effective July 1, 2026, USTR has made a conforming amendment to an additional product exclusion to maintain its coverage. This amendment affects U.S. note 20(vvv)(i)(20) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS.

The amendment modifies goods entry for consumption from July 1, 2026. It applies to statistical reporting number 8479.90.9591.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will provide instructions on how to implement this guidance.

For general questions, you can contact Philip Butler or Rachel Hasandras at the Office of the United States Trade Representative. For questions about customs classification, USTR provides a point of contact via email.

For more information, see Federal Register Notices published on dates including May 30, 2024, June 5, 2025, September 2, 2025, and December 1, 2025. USTR also published a notice on September 2, 2026, with other amendments.

Jennifer Thornton is the General Counsel for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

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