USTR announces new proposed list of tariffs on Chinese products

Arlington, Virginia, USA, 12 July 2018: On July 10, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a proposed list of Chinese imports, found in Annex A of a draft Federal Register notice, which could be subject to an additional 10% tariff, once the list becomes final, AHRI said in a Press communiqué. The proposed tariff list includes several AHRI member products, including refrigerants, heating equipment, ventilation and components, air conditioners, cooling equipment, refrigerators, freezers, vending machines, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, the communiqué said.

According to AHRI, the list covers approximately 6,000 tariff lines – approximately USD 200 billion worth of goods – according to the USTR, and is the third group of products subject to tariffs and the latest trade development to occur between the United States and China. Comments on the list are due to the USTR by August 17, the communiqué said. No dates were provided in the announcement for when the product list would be finalised, or when the tariffs would go into effect, the communiqué further said. The USTR will hold a series of public hearings at 9:30 a.m. from August 20 to 23, 2018, at the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E St. SW, Washington, D.C., the communiqué added.

According to AHRI, members must file a request to appear and submit a summary of testimony by July 27, 2018, and submit post-hearing rebuttal comments by August 30, 2018. The communiqué said AHRI will file comments urging the USTR to remove all AHRI member products from the tariff list.