Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - United States - Hydrofluorocarbons - Revision

NOTIFICATION

Revision

The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.

 

1.

Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:

Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], other:

4.

Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): New residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump variable refrigerant flow systems that are 65,000 British thermal units per hour or greater; Hydrofluorocarbons; Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 13.020); Production in the chemical industry (ICS code(s): 71.020); Products of the chemical industry (ICS code(s): 71.100)

5.

Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Restrictions on the Use of HFCs Under the AIM Act in Variable Refrigerant Flow Air Conditioning Subsector

; (8 page(s), in English)

6.

Description of content: Proposed rule - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to amend a provision of the Technology Transitions regulations promulgated under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act. This action allows one additional year, until 1 January 2027, solely for the installation of new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump variable refrigerant flow systems that are 65,000 British thermal units per hour or greater using components manufactured in the U.S. or imported prior to 1 January 2026. The existing 1 January 2026, compliance date for the installation of certain variable refrigerant flow systems may result in significant stranded inventory that was intended for new construction. EPA is promulgating this action to mitigate the potential for significant stranded inventory in this subsector.

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Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Cost saving and productivity enhancement

8.

Relevant documents:

89 Federal Register (FR) 53373, 26 June 2024; Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 84:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-06-26/html/2024-13900.htm

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-06-26/pdf/2024-13900.pdf

This proposed rule and previous actions notified under the symbol G/TBT/N/USA/1954 are identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0643. The Docket Folder is available from Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0643/document and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point by or before 4pm Eastern Time on 26 July 2024. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with the EPA and will also be submitted to the Docket on Regulations.gov if received within the comment period.

Reducing Use of HFCs

https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined

10.

Final date for comments: 26 July 2024

11.

Texts available from: National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone or fax numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_04052_00_e.pdf