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.

      Key dates include:

• 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 tariffs are part of the Trump Administration’s response to USTR’s investigation under Section 301(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding China’s acts, policies and practices related to intellectual property and forced technology transfers.  As mentioned, the most recent announcement follows prior USTR action on a combined $50 billion worth of Chinese imports:

• 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.

China announced retaliatory tariffs almost immediately in response to the U.S. release of its first two lists.  On June 18, following China’s announcement, President Trump directed USTR to identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs.  In response to USTR’s release of its latest list, China indicated it was considering non-tariff retaliatory measures.
 

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	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 available here	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
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   2nd 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
7/10/2018	China  reportedly considering additional non-tariff retaliation measures