USTR is seeking written comments from interested parties by June 1 (written responses to these comments are due by June 8) and will hold a hearing June 16 on the appropriateness of the International Trade Commission’s remedy recommendations in the Section 201 investigation of quartz surface products.
This investigation covers QSP, which is created from a mixture of materials that includes predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz powder, cristobalite, glass powder) as well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester). QSP is typically sold as rectangular slabs but the investigation covers other surfaces as well, such as countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, bar tops, work tops, tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower surrounds, fireplace surrounds, mantels, and tiles. QSP covered by the investigation is provided for under HTSUS subheadings 6810.99.0020, 6810.99.0040, and 7020.00.6000.
The ITC is recommending, among other things, the establishment of a tariff-rate quota on QSP imports, including slabs and fabricated quartz surface products, for a four-year period. In year 1 of the remedy, the recommended in-quota tariff rate is 25 percent and the recommended above-quota tariff rate is 40 percent, both of which would decrease by one percentage point in each subsequent year of the four-year relief period. The TRQ recommended volume is 140 million square feet in year 1, 159 million square feet in year 2, 164 million square feet in year 3, and 169 million square feet in year 4, and the annual in-quota volume level is recommended to be allocated on a quarterly basis, with ITC Chair Amy Karpel recommending that these quarterly allocations allow for 25 percent of the in-quota volume.
The ITC is further recommending that this measure not apply to imports of subject merchandise from Australia, Canada, CAFTA-DR, Colombia, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, and Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act beneficiary countries. Please see here for the additional recommendations made by the ITC.
In their input to USTR, commenters are being requested to address:
- the appropriateness of any other proposed action and how it would be in the public interest;
- the short- and long-term effects the proposed action is likely to have on the domestic QSP industry and its workers, as well as on other domestic industries and communities; and
- the short- and long-term effects that not taking the proposed action is likely to have on the domestic QSP industry and its workers, as well as on other domestic industries and communities.
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