The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative created a new site meant to help importers navigate the Section 301 tariff process. The page describes some basics of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and has an HTS number search feature to help determine if a product is subject to the tariffs.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will not automatically renew Section 301 product exclusions, USTR Robert Lighthizer told Rep. Jackie Walorksi during the June 19 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the administration's trade policy. But Lighthizer told a California Democrat that his office is hiring employers and contractors and borrowing "a bunch of people" from other agencies to work on the flood of product exclusion requests that's expected.
Ricoh Americas is “currently assessing the potential impact” of the proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent “on nearly all remaining goods manufactured in China and imported to the U.S.,” the vendor emailed in an announcement to business customers on June 17. “The government-proposed tariff increases are not specific to Ricoh and span far beyond our industry,” it said. “Be confident that we continue to review and optimize our global supply chain to minimize the potential impact for both Ricoh and your organization wherever possible.” While Ricoh will do its best to mitigate any impact, “it is possible that the outcome cannot be avoided, and we anticipate there may be some impact to pricing,” the vendor said. “If, despite our efforts, there becomes a need to increase pricing for new purchases, we will work with you to create solutions that optimize cost, delivery, and value.”
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 10-14 in case they were missed.
The List 4 goods targeted for Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent include “many products Bose imports” to the U.S. from China, the manufacturer said in comments posted June 17 in docket USTR-2019-0004. The “proposed remedy” for curbing China’s allegedly unfair trade practices “should avoid causing disproportionate and direct economic harm to U.S. consumers,” Bose said.
Companies large and small, new and more than a century old all told government officials to keep apparel and footwear off the fourth list of Section 301 tariffs. The witnesses testified June 17, on the first of seven days of hearings from industries and trade groups about the possibility of additional 25 percent tariffs on nearly all Chinese imports that have not yet been targeted.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer faced criticism about President Donald Trump's China policy, which both Democrats and Republicans noted is hurting U.S. businesses and, if tariffs come on List 4, will dearly cost U.S. consumers. Lighthizer, who was testifying June 18 at the Senate Finance Committee about the administration's trade policy, said there's been no decision on whether there will be tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese imports. "The president will make that decision in the next few weeks," he said, and if tariffs are levied, there will be an exclusion process. "We think we have been fair in granting exclusions," he said.
The Office of Management and Budget Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs approved a new information collection requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in order to begin the exclusion process for goods from China in the third tranche of Section 301 tariffs. OIRA approved the new form on June 14 after USTR sought an "emergency" review that allowed for expedited treatment, according to OIRA's page on the form. USTR requested the new information collection last month and said it planned to begin taking requests by around June 30 (see 1905210048).
Last August, Mike Branson, executive vice president of Rheem Manufacturing's air conditioning division, warned that if 8145.90.80 wasn't added to Section 301 tariffs, Chinese air conditioner exporters would avoid tariffs on their goods (see 1808210011). On June 17, Branson was back at a Section 301 tariffs hearing saying that's exactly what's happening.
Public hearings that begin June 17 on the proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports not previously dutied will span seven full days through June 25 and include roughly 320 witnesses, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a June 14 notice. Based on USTR’s May 17 notice announcing the List 4 tariffs, post-hearing rebuttal comments would be due July 2, seven days after the hearings end, marking the last deadline in the List 4 proceeding before President Donald Trump decides whether to put the duties into effect. June 17 is also the deadline for written comments in the List 4 proceeding.