The United States Trade Representative has announced that it will seek to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on all imports from China that are not currently subject to additional tariffs as part of the ongoing 301 IP trade dispute with China. The USTR has already imposed tariffs of more than $250 billion in Chinese imports in three separate proceedings (Lists 1, 2, and 3).
The proposed List 4 covers the remaining $300 billion in Chinese imports. “These actions will harm the sports industry and many Sports and Fitness Industry Assocations members,” said the group. To pressure China into settling the 301 IP dispute, the USTR has announce an accelerated time frame within which it will consider whether or not to impose tariffs on goods appearing on List 4:
June 10, 2019: Due date for filing requests to appear and a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing.
June 17, 2019: Due date for submission of written comments.
June 17, 2019: The Section 301 Committee will convene a public hearing in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW Washington DC 20436 that begins at 9:30 a.m.
Seven days after the last day of the public hearing: Due date for submission of post-hearing rebuttal comments.
Based on this schedule, the USTR may impose additional tariffs on List 4 products as early as July. To assist members in mitigating harm caused by these actions, SFIA will coordinate and file comments on behalf of interested members and request that the USTR remove products from additional tariffs according to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code of the imported product. On behalf of members, SFIA will also testify at the hearing, file post-hearing comments and reach out to supporting Congressional offices.
Please review the “List 4” tariff document, CLICK HERE, to understand your exposure better. Most apparel tariff targets are listed in chapters 61 & 62, Footwear in chapter 64 and sports/fitness equipment in chapter 95.
If your company is interested
in having SFIA assist in removing products classified under HTS codes appearing
on List 4 from any final List that imposes additional duties on Chinese
imports, please go to this PAGE
HERE.
On this
page you will find a confidential questionnaire seeking details on
each product/HTS code that you want removed. The questionnaire must be completed and submitted to
Chandler Hoffman, choffman@sfia.org, by May 28 to give
SFIA sufficient time to draft the comments and have members approve comment
filing before June 17.
The cost for members is $2,000 per each tariff exemption petition & $6,000
for non-members.
Once your confidential questionnaire petition
forms are submitted, you will be invoiced.
SFIA will also be following up to assist members in seeking exclusions from the increased tariffs (10 to 25 percent) for goods on List 3, once this exclusion process is announce by the USTR. Please let us know if you are interested in pursuing List 3 exclusions.
We look forward to helping
you navigate these challenging trade waters, please contact us with any
questions.
Click
Here to find HTS Codes, the questionnaire
form and all information. Submit questionnaire petition forms to Chandler
Hoffman, choffman@sfia.org
