The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes the Trump administrations use of “unilateral” Section 301 tariffs as a “policy response” to China’s allegedly unfair trade practices, it commented June 14, in remarks posted Monday in docket USTR-2019-0004. The Chamber urges the administration to return to the negotiating table and strike “a high-standard, comprehensive, enforceable” trade agreement with China that “puts an end to tariffs already in place and forestalls further disruptions to the livelihood of all Americans,” it said.

House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said after a June 25 hearing on Mexican labor reform that the Democrats asking for changes to the NAFTA rewrite are asking for changes that are "relatively narrow." "Our hope is we can move with dispatch, get our concerns resolved, strengthen the agreement and move forward," he said, adding that trade deal votes "never get easy, putting them off."

The “same concerns” that led the Trump administration to remove smartwatches and fitness trackers from the List 3 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports in September “continue to apply” with the proposed fourth tranche, commented Fitbit in docket USTR-2019-0004. Imposing 25 percent tariffs would cause Fitbit “significant and unavoidable economic harm," it commented.

The “same concerns” that led the Trump administration to remove smartwatches and fitness trackers from the List 3 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports in September “continue to apply” with the proposed fourth tranche, commented Fitbit in docket USTR-2019-0004. Imposing 25 percent tariffs would cause Fitbit “significant and unavoidable economic harm," it commented, dated Monday and posted Thursday.

The “same concerns” that led the Trump administration to remove smartwatches and fitness trackers from the List 3 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports in September “continue to apply” with the proposed fourth tranche, commented Fitbit in docket USTR-2019-0004. Imposing 25 percent tariffs would cause Fitbit “significant and unavoidable economic harm," it commented, dated Monday and posted Thursday.

The “same concerns” that led the Trump administration to remove smartwatches and fitness trackers from the List 3 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports in September “continue to apply” with the proposed List 4 duties, commented Fitbit in docket USTR-2019-0004. Imposing 25 percent tariffs on those products in List 4 would cause Fitbit “significant and unavoidable economic harm," it said in comments dated Monday and posted Thursday.

The proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs cover “all of Apple’s major products,” and would harm the company’s “global competitiveness,” said the iPhone maker in heavily redacted comments posted Thursday in docket USTR-2019-0004. “The Chinese producers we compete with in global markets do not have a significant presence in the U.S. market, and so would not be impacted by U.S. tariffs,” said Apple. “A U.S. tariff would, therefore, tilt the playing field in favor of our global competitors.” Tariffs also would reduce Apple’s “U.S. economic contribution,” it said. It vowed last year “to make a total direct contribution to the U.S. economy of over $350 billion over 5 years and we are pleased to report that we are on track to achieve this contribution,” the company said now.

The proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs cover “all of Apple’s major products,” and would harm the company’s “global competitiveness,” said the iPhone maker in heavily redacted comments posted Thursday in docket USTR-2019-0004. “The Chinese producers we compete with in global markets do not have a significant presence in the U.S. market, and so would not be impacted by U.S. tariffs,” said Apple. “A U.S. tariff would, therefore, tilt the playing field in favor of our global competitors.” Tariffs also would reduce Apple’s “U.S. economic contribution,” it said. It vowed last year “to make a total direct contribution to the U.S. economy of over $350 billion over 5 years and we are pleased to report that we are on track to achieve this contribution,” the company said now.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will begin accepting exclusion requests for the List 3 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports through a new online portal (exclusions.ustr.gov) that opens June 30 at noon EDT, said an agency notice Thursday. Exclusion requests will be due Sept. 30 through the portal, with responses due 14 days after the request is posted there, it said. Exclusions that are granted will be retroactive to Sept. 24, when the List 3 tariffs took effect at 10 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. The Trump administration raised the tariffs to 25 percent on May 10.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will begin accepting exclusion requests for the List 3 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports through a new online portal (exclusions.ustr.gov) that opens June 30 at noon EDT, said an agency notice Thursday. Exclusion requests will be due Sept. 30 through the portal, with responses due 14 days after the request is posted there, it said. Exclusions that are granted will be retroactive to Sept. 24, when the List 3 tariffs took effect at 10 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. The Trump administration raised the tariffs to 25 percent on May 10.