USTR Proposes Third Round of Tariffs on Chinese Imports
Targets $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent
On July 10, 2018, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced it was initiating the process of imposing a 10% tariff on Chinese imports as a supplemental action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. USTR’s proposed list covers more than 6,000 products, including seafood and agriculture, chemicals, textiles, metals, electronics, and a host of consumer goods from apparel to furniture to appliances. The list is valued at $200 billion annually and follows prior action on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports.
This latest round of tariffs will take effect at a later date following a public review process, including an opportunity for the submission of written comments and an opportunity to participate in a public hearing. USTR is seeking public input on:
- Whether any listed products should be retained or removed, and whether any products not listed should be added;
- The level of the duty rate; and
- The appropriate aggregate level of trade to be covered by additional duties.
- July 27, 2018: Due date for filing requests to appear and a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing, and for filing pre-hearing submissions.
- August 17, 2018: Due date for submission of written comments.
- August 20-23, 2018: Section 301 Committee public hearing.
- August 30, 2018: Due date for submission of post-hearing rebuttal comments.
- The first set of tariffs – which took effect July 6, 2018 – covers 818 products valued at $34 billion (at a tariff rate of 25%). The list was drawn from a draft list of 1,333 products published in April and finalized by USTR after a public comment process. On July 6, USTR announced a product exclusion process for domestic interests seeking product-specific exclusions from the tariffs.
- A second set of 284 products – valued at $16 billion – will see tariffs take effect at a later date following an ongoing public review process similar to that outlined above.
- The tariffs in these first two sets targeted Chinese imports containing “industrially significant technologies, including those related to China’s ‘Made in China 2025’ industrial policy.”
- The third set includes products from across all sectors of the Chinese economy, including some subheadings that commenters suggested for inclusion in the first round.
Date | Action | Product List | Tariff Rate | Value of Imports | Key Dates |
6/15/2018 | USTR finalized first set of 818 tariff lines of Chinese imports; products previously subject to public comment; product-exclusion process now open
|
1st set available here | 25%
|
$34 billion
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Effective date: 7/6/2018 Requests for product-exclusions due: 10/9/2018
|
USTR released second set of 284 tariff lines of Chinese imports; public comment underway | 2nd set | 25% | $16 billion | Written comments due: 7/23/2018 Public hearing to be held: 7/24/2018 Rebuttal comments due: 7/31/2018 Effective date: TBD
|
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6/16/2018 | China released retaliation list to be implemented in two phases – 545 tariff lines and 114 tariff lines (covering U.S. imports into China)
|
1st set available here
|
25%
TBD |
$34 billion
$16 billion |
Effective date: 7/6/2018
Effective date: TBD |
7/10/2018
|
USTR released a third set of 6,000+ tariff lines of Chinese imports; will be subject to public comment
|
3rd set available here | 10% | $200 billion | Request to appear at public hearing due: 7/27/2018 Written comments due: 8/17/2018 Public hearing to be held: 8/20-8/23/2018 Rebuttal comments due: 8/30/2018 Effective date: TBD
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7/10/2018 | China reportedly considering additional non-tariff retaliation measures |
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