THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
ANNEX
Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
Effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after March 1, 2000, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is modified by inserting in numerical sequence the following new U.S. note, subheadings and superior text thereto, with the language inserted in the columns entitled "Heading/Subheading", "Article Description", "Rates of Duty 1-General", "Rates of Duty 1-Special", and "Rates of Duty 2", respectively.
"9. For purposes of subheadings 9903.72.01 through 9903.72.15,
inclusive, the following steel products (enumerated by reference to common commercial usage) are excluded from such subheadings, and no entries of such products shall be permitted or included therein or counted toward the quantities specified for any quota period: (a) Tire cord quality wire rod measuring 5.0 mm or more but not more than 6.0 mm in cross-sectional diameter, with an average partial decarburization of no more than 70 microns in depth (maximum 200 microns); having no inclusions greater than 20 microns; capable of being drawn to a diameter of 0.30 mm or less with 3 or fewer breaks per ton, imported pursuant to a purchase order from a tire manufacturer or a tire cord wire manufacturer in the United States for tire cord quality wire rod, and containing by weight the following elements in the proportions shown: -- 0.68 percent or more of carbon, -- less than 0.01 percent of aluminum, -- 0.040 percent or less, in the aggregate, of phosphorus and sulfur, -- 0.008 percent or less of nitrogen, and -- not more than 0.55 percent, in the aggregate, of copper, nickel and chromium; (b) Valve spring quality wire rod containing by weight 0.43 percent or more but not more than 0.73 percent of carbon, having a maximum inclusion content to ASTM A-877, Table 4, imported pursuant to a purchase order from an automotive valve spring or automotive brake spring manufacturer in the United States for automotive valve spring or automotive brake spring quality wire rod, measuring 5.5 mm or more but not more than 18 mm in cross-sectional diameter and having a partial decarburization of no more than 0.127 mm in depth and seams of no more than 0.075 mm in depth, or if measuring over 9.5 mm but not more than 18 mm in cross-sectional diameter either: -- having a partial decarburization of not over 1.3 percent of the diameter of the rod, a zero ferrite (total) decarburization and seams of no more than 0.075 mm in depth, or -- if AISI grade 6150, having a partial decarburization of not more than 0.127 mm in depth, a zero ferrite (total) decarburization and a seam depth of not more than 1 percent of the diameter;
(c) Class III pipe wrap quality wire rod measuring 10.3 mm in cross-sectional diameter, with an average partial decarburization per coil of no more than 70 microns in depth, having no inclusions greater than 20 microns, free of injurious piping and undue segregation, having a heat tensile strength minimum of 170 ksi and a maximum of 177 ksi, and containing by weight the following elements in the proportions shown: -- 0.72 percent or more of carbon, -- 0.50 percent or more but not more than 1.10 percent of manganese, -- not more than 0.030 percent of phosphorus, -- not more than 0.035 percent of sulfur, and -- 0.10 percent or more but not more than 0.35 percent of silicon; (d) Aircraft quality cold heading quality wire rod measuring 5.5 mm or more but not more than 19.0 mm in cross sectional diameter for the grades enumerated herein, meeting the requirements defined in the aerospace and military specifications listed for each grade: Grade Specification 4037 AMS6300, 2301 4130 AMS6370, 2301; MIL-S6758 4140 AMS6382, 2301; MIL-S5626 4340 AMS6415, 2301; MIL-S5000 8740 AMS6322, 2301; MIL-S6049 PWA722 AMS6304, 2301, having a diameter tolerance of plus 0.25 mm and minus 0.25 mm, having an out of roundness tolerance of not more than 0.30 mm, having surface seam of not more than the greater of 0.07 mm or 1.0 percent of the diameter in depth, free from complete decarburization, partial decarburization no more than the greater of 0.10 mm or 1.0 percent of the diameter in depth, having micro-structure meeting the aircraft cleanliness requirements of AMS2301, and having grain size predominantly No. 5 or finer; (e) Aluminum cable steel reinforced ("ACSR") quality steel wire rod, measuring either (i) 7.2 mm or more but not more than 7.8 mm in cross-sectional diameter or (ii) 9.2 mm or more but not more than 9.8 mm in cross-sectional diameter, in the following strength/grade/size requirements: -- 95 kgf/mm2 for AISI grade 1045 wire rod measuring 7.2 mm or more but not more than 7.8 mm in cross-sectional diameter, -- 92 kgf/mm2 for AISI grade 1045 wire rod measuring 9.2 mm or more but not more than 9.8 mm in cross-sectional diameter, -- 100 kgf/mm2 for AISI grade 1050 wire rod measuring 7.2 mm or more but not more than 7.8 mm in cross-sectional diameter, or -- 98 kgf/mm2 for AISI grade 1050 wire rod measuring 9.2 mm or more but not more than 9.8 mm in cross-sectional diameter, processed exclusively by heat-treating on an in-line fused salt bath patenting process that results in having a tensile strength tolerance range of plus or minus 5 kgf/mm2, and having an ovality of no more than 0.30 mm. (f) Piano wire string quality wire rod measuring either 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 or 8.0 mm in cross-sectional diameter, the foregoing with an average partial decarburization of no more than 70 microns in depth (maximum 200 microns), having no inclusions greater than 20 microns, capable of being drawn to a diameter of 0.30 mm or less with 3 or fewer breaks per ton, imported pursuant to a purchase order from a piano wire string manufacturer in the United States for piano wire string quality wire rod, and containing by weight the following elements in the proportions shown: -- 0.72 percent or more but not more than 1.0 percent of carbon, -- less than 0.01 percent of aluminum, -- not more than 0.040 percent, in the aggregate, of phosphorus and sulfur, -- not more than 0.003 percent of nitrogen, -- not more than 0.55 percent, in the aggregate, of copper, nickel and chromium, and -- less than 0.60 percent of manganese; (g) Grade 1085 annealed bearing quality wire rod, of a quality for manufacturing bearings, AISI grade 1085, annealed, 100 percent spheroidized, having maximum inclusions not exceeding ASTM A295, Table 3, with no samples of such rod showing globular oxide inclusions larger than 0.001 inches nor more than ten globular oxide inclusions between 0.0005 and 0.001 inches per square inch of sample area, the foregoing containing by weight the following elements in the proportions shown: -- 0.80 percent or more but not more than 0.85 percent of carbon, -- 0.70 percent or more but not more than 1.00 percent of manganese, and -- not more than 15 ppm of oxygen; (h) 1080 tire bead wire quality wire rod measuring 5.5 mm or more but not more than 7.0 mm in cross-sectional diameter, with an average partial decarburization of no more than 70 microns in depth (maximum 200 microns), having no inclusions greater than 20 microns, capable of being drawn to a diameter of 0.78 mm or larger with 0.5 or fewer breaks per ton, imported pursuant to a purchase order from a tire manufacturer or a manufacturer of tire wire products in the United States for inclusion in tires, and containing by weight the following elements in the proportions shown: -- 0.78 percent or more of carbon, -- less than 0.03 percent of soluble aluminum, -- not more than 0.040 percent, in the aggregate, of phosphorous and sulfur, -- not more than 0.004 percent of nitrogen, and -- not more than 0.055 percent, in the aggregate, of copper, nickel and chromium."
" : Hot-rolled bars and rods of nonalloy or alloy steel, in : : irregularly wound coils, of circular or approximately : : circular solid cross section, having a diameter of 5 mm : : or more but less than 19 mm, except such bars and rods : : enumerated in U.S. note 9 to this subchapter and except : : bars and rods of alloy steel containing by weight 24 : : percent or more of nickel, provided for in subheadings : : 7213.91, 7213.99, 7227.20 and 7227.90.60, all the : : foregoing except products of Canada or of Mexico: : : If entered during the period from March 1, 2000, : : through February 28, 2001, inclusive: : 9903.72.01 : If entered during the period from March 1, 2000, : : through May 31, 2000, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 477,783,962 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.02 : If entered during the period from June 1, 2000, : : through August 31, 2000, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 477,783,962 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.03 : If entered during the period from September 1, 2000, : : through November 30, 2000, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 477,783,962 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : :[Hot-rolled...(con.):] : : [If...(con.):] : 9903.72.04 : If entered during the period from December 1, 2000, : : through February 28, 2001, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of the remaining quantity, : : if any, from 1,433,351,886 kg after the aggregate : : quantity entered under subheadings 9903.72.01 : : through 9903.72.03, inclusive, is subtracted : : therefrom........................................... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.05 : Other.................................................. : : The rate : : The rate : provided in : : provided in : the Rates of : : the Rates of : Duty 1 : : Duty 2 : General : : column : subcolumn : : for the : for the : : applicable : applicable : : subheading : subheading : : (7213.91, : (7213.91, : : 7213.99, : 7213.99, : : 7227.20 or : 7227.20 or : : 7227.90.60) : 7227.90.60) : : + 10% : + 10% : : : : : : : : If entered during the period from March 1, 2001, : : through February 28, 2002, inclusive: : 9903.72.06 : If entered during the period from March 1, 2001, : : through May 31, 2001, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 487,339,641 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.07 : If entered during the period from June 1, 2001, : : through August 31, 2001, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 487,339,641 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.08 : If entered during the period from September 1, 2001, : : through November 30, 2001, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 487,339,641 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.09 : If entered during the period from December 1, 2001, : : through February 28, 2002, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of the remaining quantity, : : if any, from 1,462,018,923 kg after the aggregate : : quantity entered under subheadings 9903.72.06 : : through 9903.72.08, inclusive, is subtracted : : therefrom........................................... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.10 : Other.................................................. : : The rate : : The rate : the Rates of : : the Rates of : Duty 1 : : Duty 2 : General : : column : subcolumn : : for the : for the : : applicable : applicable : : subheading : subheading : : (7213.91, : (7213.91, : : 7213.99, : 7213.99, : : 7227.20 or : 7227.20 or : : 7227.90.60) : 7227.90.60) : : + 7.5% : + 7.5% : : : : : If entered during the period from March 1, 2002, : : through March 1, 2003, inclusive: : 9903.72.11 : If entered during the period from March 1, 2002, : : through May 31, 2002, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 497,086,434 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.12 : If entered during the period from June 1, 2002, : : through August 31, 2002, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 497,086,434 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.13 : If entered during the period from September 1, 2002, : : through November 30, 2002, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities not in excess of 497,086,434 kg.......... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : 9903.72.14 : If entered during the period from December 1, 2002, : : through March 1, 2003, inclusive, in aggregate : : quantities in excess of the remaining quantity, : : if any, from 1,491,259,302 kg after the aggregate : : quantity entered under subheadings 9903.72.11 : : through 9903.72.13, inclusive, is subtracted : : therefrom........................................... : : : : : No change : No change : No change : : : : : :[Hot-rolled...(con.):] : : [If...(con.):] : 9903.72.15 : Other.................................................. : : The rate : : The rate : provided in : : provided in : the Rates of : : the Rates of : Duty 1 : : Duty 2 : General : : column : subcolumn : : for the : for the : : applicable : applicable : : subheading : subheading : : (7213.91, : (7213.91, : : 7213.99, : 7213.99, : : 7227.20 or : 7227.20 or : : 7227.90.60) : 7227.90.60) : : + 5%" : + 5% : :
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