Tech Floods USTR With Opposition to 4th Tranche of Tariffs on China
Many tech and other interests flooded docket USTR-2019-0004 before the Monday-midnight deadline for comments on the fourth tranche of tariffs on Chinese goods. Most opposed the tariffs on grounds they would harm U.S. businesses and consumers and would do little…
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to stop China’s allegedly bad behavior on intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer. The List 4 goods targeted for Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent include “many products Bose imports” to the U.S. from China, commented the manufacturer, posted Monday. Bose products earmarked for List 4 tariffs “generally do not incorporate the types of technology targeted” by China’s IP and tech transfer policies, said the manufacturer. Bose forecasts it will import $450 million worth of goods from China this year. Though the administration claims to have tried to avoid placing tariffs on consumer products, “there is simply no way to protect consumers from tariffs” on List 4, said the Information Technology Industry Council. List 4 includes “finished computing devices and accessories that are used widely," ITI said. Lists 1, 2 and 3 “already placed duties on various types of computer monitors, screens, and networking equipment,” it said: “List 4 tariffs will mean that every single office and home computing machine from printers to standalone desktops to landline telephones -- and even the cables that connect them -- will become more expensive for all" in the U.S. LCD modules Sharp imports from China are used in “a wide array of products” manufactured in the U.S., including cars, watches and phones, commented the company: “Punitive” tariffs on LCD modules would imperil many of those jobs “located within the US manufacturing heartland of the Midwest,” in states “that are so crucial to the President’s upcoming re-election campaign.” Also Monday, tech and other interests testified at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative against List 4 duties (see 1906170066).