Trump administration opens exclusion process for List 3 China 301 tariffs

The Trump Administration and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) have opened an exclusion process for List 3 China 301 tariffs, which encompass many ingredients used in the natural products industry. List 3 imports from China were already subject to a 10% duty rate since September 24, 2018, but on May 9, following setbacks in trade negotiations with China, the USTR modified the Section 301 List 3 tariffs, increasing the duty rate to 25%. The increased duty applies to products exported to the U.S. on or after May 10 and will enter the U.S. on or after June 1.

“The process has been long and tedious, but we have an exclusion process which will begin on June 30. While that fight is won, we still have a lot of work to do because the natural products industry was just hit with the proposed List 4 China 301 tariffs earlier this month. List 4 includes many new dietary ingredients used in dietary supplements as well as personal and home care ingredients and products,” said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA; Washington, D.C.), in a press release. The trade organization has been working with the Trump administration since September 2018 to secure an exclusion process. “Without exclusions for our industry, these new China 301 tariff proposals will increase costs for small businesses and the majority of Americans who rely on dietary supplements to support their healthy lifestyles,” adds Fabricant.

NPA has also announced its intention to formally request to testify at an upcoming hearing on June 17, 2019 hosted by USTR on the List 4 China 301 tariffs that were

on May 17, 2019.