ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 9834ProclamationTrump 45 · R Quiet signal

Proclamation 9834

To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes

This proclamation terminates Mauritania's beneficiary status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act effective January 1, 2019, extends duty-free access for specified Israeli agricultural products through December 31, 2019, adds Nepal to the HTS preference program through 2025, corrects technical errors in tobacco and Section 301 tariff classifications, modifies KORUS staging for Korean truck duties through 2040, and updates USMFTA textile rules of origin with Morocco.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 35

Impact dates

  1. Korean truck 25% (KR) duty rate ends

  2. Korean truck duty-free (KR) treatment effective

  3. USMFTA textile rules modifications enter into effect (first day of month following USTR Federal Register announcement)

  4. Nepal preference program expires

  5. Israel agricultural duty-free access expires

  6. Mauritania AGOA termination effective; most HTS modifications effective

  7. Section 301 and MTB HTS modifications effective

Key directives

  • Terminate Mauritania's AGOA beneficiary designation effective January 1, 2019
  • Delete 'Islamic Republic of Mauritania' from HTS general note 16(a)
  • Modify HTS per Annex I to extend Israeli agricultural duty-free access through December 31, 2019
  • Add 'Nepal Preference Program.........NP' to HTS general note 3(c)(i) effective through December 31, 2025
  • Expand PATPA guayabera-style shirt duty-free treatment to include HTS heading 6211
  • Delete HTS 2403.11.00 from tobacco tariff-rate quota note
  • Update Section 301 HTS references from 2009.89.60 to 2009.89.65 and 2009.89.70
  • Amend MTB 2018 headings to reference subheading 2009.89.70
  • Terminate prior KORUS tariff treatment for Korean truck subheadings; establish 25% duty through 2040; duty-free from 2041
  • Modify KORUS staged duty reductions per Annex II effective January 1, 2019
  • Modify USMFTA textile rules of origin per Annex III upon USTR Federal Register announcement of Morocco completion

Timeline

Immediate

  • Mauritania AGOA termination effective January 1, 2019
  • HTS modifications for Israel, Nepal, Panama, tobacco, Section 301 effective January 1, 2019 or November 1, 2018
  • KORUS truck duty staging modifications effective January 1, 2019

Near term (90d)

  • USTR announcement expected on Morocco domestic procedures completion for USMFTA rule changes

Long term

  • Israel agricultural duty-free access expires December 31, 2019
  • Nepal preference program expires December 31, 2025
  • Korean truck duty '25% (KR)' rate continues through December 31, 2040
  • KORUS duty-free treatment for trucks effective January 1, 2041

Risks & tensions

  • Mauritania termination may strain U.S.-Mauritania relations and affect regional AGOA engagement
  • Israel extension through 2019 creates near-term renegotiation pressure; uncertainty if permanent agreement not reached
  • KORUS truck duty staging to 2041 represents unusually long tariff phase-out, potentially reflecting trade friction
  • Multiple technical HTS corrections suggest complexity in maintaining tariff schedule accuracy amid rapid trade policy changes
  • USMFTA rule changes contingent on Moroccan procedural completion creates implementation uncertainty
Proclamation 9834: To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes · Executive Orders