CompTIA, TechNet: Increased Tariff Already Hurting Consumer, Don't OK Additional Increase

tech product imports from China for the remainder of 2019, the cost could run into the tens of billions of dollars.” Comments were due Friday on the proposed increase. There’s “no doubt” tariffs will create “irreparable harm to America’s technology companies, the 11.8 million Americans who work in tech occupations, and consumers who rely on affordable technology in their daily lives,” said CompTIA. The proposed increase to 30 percent “will decrease the competitiveness of CompTIA member companies’ products by making U.S.-manufactured technology products more expensive relative to foreign-made competing products,” it said. It’s “economically unfeasible” for tech companies “to incur these additional costs without passing along some costs via price increases” to businesses and consumers, it said. Tariffs “are not the solution” for securing “meaningful commitments from China to change their trade practices,” said TechNet. “They have inflicted harm on U.S. workers, consumers, and businesses of all sizes. Increasing tariffs from 25 percent to 30 percent for tranches one, two, and three would be a mistake.” China “must be confronted about its unfair trade practices, but increasing tariffs will further harm the long-term health of the U.S. economy,” said TechNet. “We hope that upcoming negotiations between the U.S. and China will lead to real progress.” The U.S. and the Chinese should “work strenuously to resolve this situation and end the tariffs,” it said. “We urge the Trump Administration not to escalate this trade war by moving ahead with its proposed increase.” — Paul Gluckman