Section 201 HTS Codes and Safeguard Watch

Informational only — not legal advice.

If your entry shows a 9903.45.* code, it belongs to the Section 201 safeguard family — but matching the code is only the first step. Unlike Section 232 or 301, where a code match usually means a duty was owed, Section 201 safeguards are time-limited and quota-governed. A code that was collectible in one quarter may not have been collectible in the next.

The two historical product groupings are large residential washers (9903.45.01-.06) and solar cells / modules (9903.45.21-.29). Treat this family as date-sensitive: a 9903.45.* code can remain useful for historical entries even when the safeguard is no longer collectible for current entries.

Background on Section 201

Section 201 is the main U.S. global safeguard authority under 19 U.S.C. 2251. It allows temporary import relief when the USITC finds that increased imports are a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to a domestic industry.

That makes Section 201 different from 232 and 301. It is not about national security or unfair foreign practices. It is a product-specific remedy built around injury findings, presidential remedy decisions, and — critically — quota administration. Safeguard duties often step down over time, and tariff-rate quotas can change the effective rate within a single period.

Current status

As of June 8, 2026:

• the Section 201 safeguard family is 9903.45.*
• the two product groupings are large residential washers and solar cells / modules
• USTR's 2026 Trade Policy Agenda states that the solar safeguard measure expired on February 7, 2026
• quartz surface products are in a pending Section 201 remedy/comment/hearing process after the USITC's April 1, 2026 import-injury determination, May 5 remedy recommendations, and May 18 report transmittal to the President
• USITC recommended a four-year tariff-rate quota: in-quota additional duties starting at 25% in year one and above-quota additional duties starting at 40% in year one, stepping down annually if adopted
• USTR comments and testimony requests for quartz surface products were due June 1, 2026, rebuttal comments are due June 8, 2026, and the public hearing is scheduled for June 16, 2026
• no final quartz surface products safeguard duty, quota, or Chapter 99 implementation code has been verified
• schedule presence alone does not prove the safeguard was collectible on a specific entry date — you must check the entry date against the relevant proclamation chain, expiration date, quota posture, and any later extension or suspension action

How to use this page with our HTS tool

1. Click the exact 9903.45.* code from the entry.
2. In the HTS tool, confirm whether it belongs to the washer or solar side of the family.
3. Compare it with the base Chapter 1-97 HTS line and any quota details on the entry.
4. Then confirm the entry date against the relevant safeguard status and quota materials.

Full Section 201 code list

Washing machines and covered parts

• 9903.45.01-.06: 9903.45.01, 9903.45.02, 9903.45.03, 9903.45.04, 9903.45.05, 9903.45.06

Solar cells and modules

• 9903.45.21-.22: 9903.45.21, 9903.45.22
• 9903.45.25: 9903.45.25
• 9903.45.27: 9903.45.27
• 9903.45.29: 9903.45.29

Quartz surface products watch

The May 5, 2026 USITC remedy recommendations, May 15 USTR notice, and May 21 USITC Federal Register summary do not create a final code list. They show the post-injury remedy process is moving toward a presidential decision. Until the President takes action and CBP/USITC implement any resulting remedy, do not add a quartz-specific Chapter 99 duty code to live landed-cost models.

Common confusions

• Section 201 lives in 9903.45.*, not 9903.03.*.
• 9903.17.* and 9903.18.* are not shorthand for the washer / solar safeguard family.
• A live 9903.45.* heading in the schedule does not automatically prove that the safeguard was collectible on the entry date you care about.

Frequently Asked Questions

What HTS codes are part of Section 201?

The Section 201 safeguard family is the 9903.45.* series, including 9903.45.01 through 9903.45.06 for large residential washers and covered parts, plus 9903.45.21-.22, 9903.45.25, 9903.45.27, and 9903.45.29 for solar cells and modules. These codes implement the global safeguard remedy under 19 U.S.C. 2251.

Does a live 9903.45 code always mean the safeguard was still collectible?

No. Section 201 is one of the clearest examples where schedule presence alone is not enough. Active collection and quota posture depend on the product, time period, and proclamation chain. You must confirm entry date against the relevant safeguard status and any quota administration materials.

Is there a Section 201 tariff on quartz surface products?

Not yet as of the June 8, 2026 review. The USITC announced remedy recommendations on May 5 and transmitted its Section 202(f) report to the President on May 18, but no final presidential remedy or Chapter 99 code has been verified.