WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bentwood chair components, laminate films, and wood kilns are among the 1,382 items for which tariffs have been proposed by the U.S. Trade Representative, an office of the White House.
So are planers, moulders, and sanding machines, as well as presses for making particleboard.
In issuing its targeted list (download the PDF), the U.S. Trade Representative recommended a 25 percent tariff, which would be in addition to any existing duties.
"If a good of Chinese origin were currently subject to a 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty, the product would be subject to a 35 percent ad valorem rate of duty; and so on," the report says.
There is no specific date for tariffs to go into effect, but the White House Trade Representative's office says it fielded 70 comments in its 2017 study of anticompetitive practices by China's businesses and government, which led to the tariff proposal. These include forcing U.S. firms to enter technology sharing agreements with Chinese firms that the U.S. characterizes as intellectual property theft. A public comment period runs through May 22.
A search through the lengthy list for "wood" finds the following list of items. Searches for plywood, panel, cabinets and furniture did not turn up wood-industry products results.
- 84193210 Dryers for wood,
- 84659200 Planing, milling or molding (by cutting) machines for working wood, cork, bone, hard rubber, hard plastics or similar hard materials
- 84659300 Grinding, sanding or polishing machines for working wood, cork, bone, hard rubber, hard plastics or similar hard materials
- 84659400 Bending or assembling machines for working wood, cork, bone hard rubber, hard plastics or similar hard materials
- 84659902 Machine tools for working wood, cork, bone, hard rubber, hard plastics and similar hard materials, not elsewhere specified (nesoi)
- 84793000 Presses for making particle board or fiber building board of wood or other ligneous materials, and mach. for treat. wood or cork nesoi
- 94019015 Parts of seats for bentwood seats nesoi
A China-based news site provides a searchable database of the proposed tariffs. https://america.cgtn.com/2018/04/03/view-and-search-ustrs-full-list-of-…
In an escalating series of bilateral trade skirmishes, the U.S. last year placed tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, and set anti-dumping duties on Chinese plywood. China has begun to set retaliatory tariffs of its own, initially targeting mostly U.S. agricultural products including nuts and pork, but announcing yesterday tariffs on some 4-wheel drive vehicles and airplanes.
Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.