Applicants to Face Simpler, Less Costly Application Process for Chinese Tariff Exclusion Requests, PwC Says

Applicants for the most recent Chinese tariff exclusion process should expect to spend less time justifying their requests and instead benefit from a less costly and lengthy application process, according to a Feb. 28 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers. China’s announcement last month to accept exemption applications for retaliatory tariffs on nearly 700 U.S. products (see 2002180039), which officially began March 2, reduces the “cost and difficulty” in applying for exclusions compared with previous procedures, the report said. Applicants only need to submit “basic information,” such as Harmonized System codes and planned purchase amounts. Applicants should expect to spend less time justifying their requests with no need to explain the impact of Chinese retaliatory tariffs on their business or whether there is “alternative sourcing in the market, the major impacts of additional tariffs on industries and society, etc.,” PwC said. The report details the requirements applicants must meet, the scope of the products affected and more.