One hundred and fifty United States trade and consumer groups petitioned U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, before the close of public comment on Thursday, September 6th, against the implementation of yet another round of Section 301 duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.
“U.S. manufacturers, service providers, and consumers will bear the brunt of these new proposed tariffs. The negative impact will fall particularly hard on small- and medium-sized businesses and their workers who lack the scale, resources, and options to weather or adapt to these tariffs. And once these tariffs go into effect, taking them down may not happen anytime soon, as both sides harden their positions. Without any timeline for when these tariffs will be removed, the added costs and negative effects on American businesses, farms, and citizens will only compound over time.
The holiday season is fast approaching. Orders to meet holiday season demand are in most sectors already made. Indeed, within weeks of the date of this submission, shippers will begin to move products to the United States for holiday season purchases. Again, on the Administration’s apparent timeline, the 10% or 25% tariff on $250 billion (or perhaps more) of goods from China this fall will hit just as those products enter United States ports, denying U.S. importers and consumers any time to adjust those orders for this season. The situation will be ripe for significant supply chain disruption during the most critical time for retailers and their suppliers.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PETITION IN FULL
In July, the United stated began imposing tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, targeting Chinese business practices and technology rights infringements after Section 301 investigations ended. Threatening the third $200 billion list within a matter of days and a a final, encompassing remaining imports, has sent international stocks tumbling and industries starting to panic as the market heads into holiday peak shopping season. China has responded with threats of retaliatory tariffs, totaling $60 billion in U.S. goods.
To date, please see below summary of actions:
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MARCH 1: TARIFFS ON ALL IMPORTS OF STEEL & ALUMINUM ANNOUNCED
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MARCH 22: U.S. ANNOUNCES PLANS TO IMPOSE 25% TARIFFS ON $50 BILLION OF CHINESE IMPORTS.
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MARCH 22: CHINA ANNOUNCES RETALIATORY TARIFFS ON STEEL
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APRIL 3: USTR ANNOUNCES FIRST LIST SUBJECT TO 25% TARIFF – 60 DAY MANDATORY COMMENT PERIOD
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APRIL 4: CHINA PUBLISHED LIST OF $50 BILLION OF U.S. IMPORTS SUBJECT TO RETALIATORY TARIFFS
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MAY 29: WHITE HOUSE SAYS THEY WILL PROCEED WITH LIST TO BE PUBLISHED ON JUNE 15
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JUNE 15: USTR PUBLISHES FINAL LIST: $34 BILLION SUBJECT TO 25% ON JULY 6, REMAINING $16 BILLION ARE TBD
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JUNE 15: CHINA MATCHED WITH SAME SET OF TARIFFS
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JUNE 18: U.S. THREATENS 10% TARIFFS ON SECOND $200 BILLION WORTH OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA
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JULY 6: $34 BILLION NOW SUBJECT TO 25% DUTY, CHINA MATCHES
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JULY 10: INITIAL $200 BILLION LIST RELEASED AT 10% DUTY
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AUGUST 1: DUTY ON $200 BILLION LIST INCREASED TO 25% STARTING JAN. 1, 2019
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AUGUST 3: CHINA THREATENS DUTIES ON $60 BILLION WORTH OF U.S. IMPORTS
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AUGUST 7: $16 BILLION LIST ANNOUNCED TO TAKE EFFECT ON AUGUST 23
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AUGUST 23: U.S. IMPOSES 25% TARIFFS ON $16 BILLION WORTH OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA, CHINA MATCH
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SEPTEMVER 17: USTR ANNOUNCES IT WILL PROCEED WITH 10% TARIFF ON SECOND LIST OF $200 BILLION IMPORTS FROM CHINA – ON JAN 1, 2019 THE DUTY WILL INCREASE TO 25%
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SEPTEMBER 18: CHINA ANNOUNCED IT WILL IMPLEMENT TARIFFS ON $60 BILLION WORTH OF U.S. GOODS
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SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. TARIFFS ON SECOND $200 BILLION LIST GO INTO EFFECT
Shippers are warned to pay attention to industry headlines and reach out to secure additional space on Transpacific cargoes.
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