US Business Associations Want A Hearing On Biden's Proposed Tariff Rise On China


06/15/2024



Numerous pro-trade American industry associations have requested an extension of one month for the Biden administration to provide feedback on their intentions to apply higher tariffs to Chinese imports of solar equipment, electric cars, batteries, and other items. This basically means that the start date of many of the penalties has been postponed until August 1.
 
The 173 trade groups that make up the "American For Free Trade" coalition claimed that a 30-day extension of the public comment period until July 28 was "in the public interest" in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative's Office that was obtained by the media, 
 
As it did with previous levies in 2017 and 2018, the organisation, which represents retailers, manufacturers, technology businesses, agriculture groups, energy corporations, and transport firms, also asked USTR to host a public hearing on the issue.
 
The increase in tariffs was announced by President Joe Biden last month in an effort to shield American companies operating in critical industries from Chinese surplus industrial capacity that is oversupplying exports to other countries. Subsequently, USTR issued a brief 30-day window for public comments. Beginning on August 1, tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) would be increased fourfold to over 100%, while levies on semiconductors would be doubled to 50%.
 
"We are actively surveying our collective membership to gather feedback on the projected impacts of the proposed (tariff) modifications and document the in a manner that is most helpful to USTR," the groups said in the letter, dated July 6 and filed to USTR's comment portal.
 
"However, our members have indicated that they require additional time to gather and assess such information given" the breadth of the breadth of the 387 product categories slated for higher duties and the submission format.
 
Regarding the group's request, a USTR representative could not be immediately reached for comment.
 
The request was made public at the same time as a different policy group sponsored by the United Steelworkers union and domestic manufacturers demanded even more trade restrictions against imports from China. According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, in order to prevent Chinese import surges, the United States should bring back a legally-expired instrument that was put in place when China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001.
 
The American Trucking Association, the National Retail Federation, the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, the American Chemistry Council, the Beer Institute, and the National Retail Federation were among the organisations that signed the letter.
 
Car and truck parts associations were among the signatories, although trade associations for car and electric vehicle makers. 
 
Many of the organisations claimed in the letter that their "vast supply chains" provide jobs for tens of millions of Americans as they utilise and sell products imported from China.
 
(Source:www.reuters.com)