USTR Issues Notice for Postponement of 25% Tariff on Section 301 List 3

Because of the input from industry, the direction of the president, and "progress of the additional rounds of negotiations" with China since December 2018, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the duty for about 5,700 tariff lines will remain at 10 percent "until further notice." List 3 of the Section 301 tariff action was originally due to increase to 25 percent on Jan. 1, 2019, and that increase was delayed until March 2 because of the status of negotiations. This latest announcement was expected, because President Donald Trump tweeted Feb. 24 that the increase would not happen (see 1902240001). The 10 percent rate of additional duty for about $200 billion worth of Chinese products went into effect Sept. 24, 2018. The USTR noted that the Section 301 statute authorizes his office "to modify or terminate any action being taken under Section 301" if the action is no longer appropriate."