President signs proclamation moving Russia and Belarus to Column 2 duty rates

President Biden suspended Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus by signing legislation effective April 8, 2022. This action temporarily moved imports from Russia and Belarus to the Column 2 duty rates in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) as of that date. The President has now signed Presidential Proclamation 10420 on June 27, 2022, which formally amends the HTSUS by moving Russia and Belarus to Column 2 status. The Proclamation also increases duties in Column 2 for Russia to 35%, above the existing rates, for 576 8-digit HTSUS provisions, including approximately 30 provisions for basic steel mill products, fasteners, and other steel items, and 6 aluminum provisions.. The change becomes effective for goods entered into the US on or after July 27, 2022. The covered products are listed in Appendix I to the Proclamation.

Column 2 duty rates are the rates applied to countries that are not eligible for Normal Trade Relations (NTR), previously known as Most Favored Nation (MFN), rates. Before this Proclamation, the only countries remaining in Column 2 were Cuba and North Korea.

Column 2 rates (except those increased to 35% by the Proclamation) for basic steel mill products in Chapters 72 and 73 of the HTSUS average between 20% and 29%, although certain individual items have rates as low as 1% and as high as 45%. Aluminum articles in Chapter 76 Column 2 rates run from 3% to 45%. Section 232 25% additional duties also remain in place for most basic steel mill products and 10% duties on basic aluminum products.

The Proclamation does not change the status of Russian products previously banned for importation into the United States, including certain energy products, fish and seafood, alcoholic beverages, and non-industrial diamonds. Additional products are under consideration for being added to the list, both by Congress and by the Biden administration.