9903.02.57 - Except for goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 7, 2025, and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 5, 2025, except for products described in headings 9903.01.30-9903.01.33, and except as provided for in headings 9903.01.34 and 9903.02.01, articles the product of Sri Lanka, as provided for in subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter

This HTS category, 9903.02.57, designates specific articles that are products of Sri Lanka. These goods are subject to temporary import restrictions and modifications as proclaimed under trade agreements legislation and Section 22 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Crucially, this classification applies only to goods meeting strict temporal criteria: they must have been loaded onto a vessel before a specific date and time (12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 7, 2025) and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse before another specified date and time (12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 5, 2025). Furthermore, this provision excludes products covered by headings 9903.01.30 through 9903.01.33, and is subject to exceptions outlined in headings 9903.01.34 and 9903.02.01.

As a classification within Section XXII, which deals with Special Classification Provisions, Temporary Legislation, and Temporary Modifications, HTS 9903.02.57 functions as a specific overlay on other potential classifications. Unlike its sibling categories, which represent distinct product groups such as live animals (e.g., 0101: Live horses, asses, mules and hinnies; 0102: Live bovine animals), this category does not define goods by their inherent physical characteristics or primary use. Instead, it imposes conditions on the importation of Sri Lankan products based on the timing of their transit and entry, and specific exclusions or exceptions.

Since HTS 9903.02.57 is a leaf node, there are no subcategories to introduce. Classification under this heading relies entirely on fulfilling the detailed conditions regarding the origin of the goods (Sri Lanka), the precise timeframes for loading and entry, and adherence to the specified exclusions and exceptions found in related temporary legislation headings. Importers must carefully review the full text of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter, particularly subdivision (v), to accurately determine if their Sri Lankan goods fall under this restrictive provision.