Tech Interests Among Many Hundreds Seeking to Testify Against Chinese Tariffs

Micro Electronics and GlobiTech were among the tech interests joining many hundreds of companies asking to testify during four days of hearings beginning Aug. 20 against the proposed third tranche of tariffs on an estimated $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. Requests were due Monday in docket USTR-2018-0026 under the deadline U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer extended when he announced Aug. 1 he'll “consider,” at President Donald Trump’s direction, raising the third tranche of proposed duties to 25 percent from 10 percent (see 1808010073). Lighthizer in an Aug. 7 notice said he reserves the option to “extend the length of the hearing depending on the number of additional interested persons who request to appear.” Micro Electronics CEO Richard Mershad wants to testify for removing six Harmonized Tariff Schedule line items, said comments posted Tuesday. Computers and parts it identified aren't available in big quantities outside China, said the parent of an electronics retailer. GlobiTech wants to testify against tariffs on the raw materials it imports from China under HTS 3818.00.00 to manufacture silicon epitaxial wafers, said the company. Those wafers are a $3 billion “subset” serving the global semiconductor industry, it said. “As the world's largest supplier of silicon epitaxial products, chances are that smartphone that you are holding has ‘some GlobiTech in it.’"