Dear CGCC members,
On Tuesday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a proposed list of $50 billion of products currently being imported from China that could potentially be subject to additional tariffs of 25%. In this document, it stated that “the USTR has determined that the acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation covered in the investigation are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.”
CGCC Chairman Xu Chen recently commented, “as trade tensions rise between US and China, we call for a more rational and balanced approach to the tariff debate and final negotiation. There exists an overwhelming consensus to stop misinterpreting, misstating, miscalculating and over-exaggerating the so-called trade war and trade deficit. With respect to investing in the U.S., tax policies and/or tariffs only make up a portion of the business short or long-term decision-making process. Unnecessary extended and destructive trade practices between the world’s two largest economies will undoubtedly damage businesses and consumers on both sides of the Pacific. Creating a more stable and foreseeable investment climate for businesses to invest and trade across borders between the two countries will benefit consumers, manufacturers, importers, exporters and the global economy.”
USTR will hold a public hearing in Washington DC on Tuesday, May 15, regarding a proposed determination on appropriate action in response to these acts, policies, and practices. Vigorously representing the rights and interests of our members, CGCC will attend the public hearing and submit official written comments to the USTR. In an effort to consolidate our comments and speak with one voice representing our members on Capitol Hill, to the administration and to the American public, we encourage our members to share with us any facts, views, concerns, discrepancies to what’s currently being stated in the public eye, or other relevant information you have relating to these topics and in all relevant industries. This is a vital opportunity for us and our members to conduct direct dialogues with US policymakers, seeking to alleviate the trade tensions between China and the US and advocate for a collaborative approach that will benefit businesses and consumers. We also encourage our members to join us at this public hearing in DC.
The timelines for submitting comments to USTR and attending the public hearing:
- April 23, 2018: Due date for filing requests to appear and a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing and for filing pre-hearing submissions.
- May 11, 2018: Due date for submission of written comments.
- May 15, 2018: The Section 301 Committee will convene a public hearing in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission (500 E Street SW Washington, DC 20436), beginning at10:00 am.
- May 22, 2018: Due date for submission of post-hearing rebuttal comments.
USTR requests comments with respect to any aspect of the proposed action, including:
- The specific products to be subject to increased duties, including whether products listed in the Annex should be retained or removed, or whether products not currently on the list should be added.
- The level of the increase, if any, in the rate of duty.
- The appropriate aggregate level of trade to be covered by additional duties.
In commenting on the inclusion or removal of particular products on the list of products subject to the proposed additional duties, USTR requests that commenters address specifically whether imposing increased duties on a particular product would be practicable or effective to obtain the elimination of China’s acts, policies, and practices, and whether maintaining or imposing additional duties on a particular product would cause disproportionate economic harm to U.S. interests, including small- or medium-size businesses and consumers.
On October 10, 2017, CGCC provided its testimony at the USTR public hearing during a previous Section 301 Investigation. More information regarding this meeting can be found here.
Please submit your comments to Evan Junchen Pan junchen.pan@cgccusa.org by Friday, April 27. We look forward to hearing back from you.
Best regards,
CGCC