Ricoh America is “currently assessing the potential impact” of the proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent “on nearly all remaining goods manufactured in China and imported to the U.S.,” emailed the vendor to business customers Monday. “The government-proposed tariff increases are not specific to Ricoh and span far beyond our industry,” it said. “Be confident that we continue to review and optimize our global supply chain to minimize the potential impact for both Ricoh and your organization wherever possible.” Ricoh will do its best to mitigate any impact, but “it is possible that the outcome cannot be avoided, and we anticipate there may be some impact to pricing,” said the vendor. “If, despite our efforts, there becomes a need to increase pricing for new purchases, we will work with you to create solutions that optimize cost, delivery, and value.”

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will not automatically renew Section 301 product exclusions, USTR Robert Lighthizer told Rep. Jackie Walorksi during the June 19 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the administration's trade policy. But Lighthizer told a California Democrat that his office is hiring employers and contractors and borrowing "a bunch of people" from other agencies to work on the flood of product exclusion requests that's expected.

If the Trump administration makes good its threat to impose the List 4 Section 301 tariffs, “no matter the level,” it should “immediately establish a product exclusion process" for the goods affected, commented CTA, posted Tuesday in docket USTR-2019-0004. “Adequate, well-reasoned, and prompt review of exclusion requests is particularly important for the proposed tariffs on List 4 because the proposed list is almost entirely comprised of products that will have a substantial and direct impact on U.S. consumers.”

Many tech and other interests flooded docket USTR-2019-0004 before the Monday-midnight deadline for comments on the fourth tranche of tariffs on Chinese goods. Most opposed the tariffs on grounds they would harm U.S. businesses and consumers and would do little to stop China’s allegedly bad behavior on intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer. The List 4 goods targeted for Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent include “many products Bose imports” to the U.S. from China, commented the manufacturer, posted Monday. Bose products earmarked for List 4 tariffs “generally do not incorporate the types of technology targeted” by China’s IP and tech transfer policies, said the manufacturer. Bose forecasts it will import $450 million worth of goods from China this year. Though the administration claims to have tried to avoid placing tariffs on consumer products, “there is simply no way to protect consumers from tariffs” on List 4, said the Information Technology Industry Council. List 4 includes “finished computing devices and accessories that are used widely," ITI said. Lists 1, 2 and 3 “already placed duties on various types of computer monitors, screens, and networking equipment,” it said: “List 4 tariffs will mean that every single office and home computing machine from printers to standalone desktops to landline telephones -- and even the cables that connect them -- will become more expensive for all" in the U.S. LCD modules Sharp imports from China are used in “a wide array of products” manufactured in the U.S., including cars, watches and phones, commented the company: “Punitive” tariffs on LCD modules would imperil many of those jobs “located within the US manufacturing heartland of the Midwest,” in states “that are so crucial to the President’s upcoming re-election campaign.” Also Monday, tech and other interests testified at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative against List 4 duties (see 1906170066).

Ricoh Americas is “currently assessing the potential impact” of the proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent “on nearly all remaining goods manufactured in China and imported to the U.S.,” the vendor emailed in an announcement to business customers on June 17. “The government-proposed tariff increases are not specific to Ricoh and span far beyond our industry,” it said. “Be confident that we continue to review and optimize our global supply chain to minimize the potential impact for both Ricoh and your organization wherever possible.” While Ricoh will do its best to mitigate any impact, “it is possible that the outcome cannot be avoided, and we anticipate there may be some impact to pricing,” the vendor said. “If, despite our efforts, there becomes a need to increase pricing for new purchases, we will work with you to create solutions that optimize cost, delivery, and value.”

Many tech and other interests flooded docket USTR-2019-0004 before the Monday-midnight deadline for comments on the fourth tranche of tariffs on Chinese goods. Most opposed the tariffs on grounds they would harm U.S. businesses and consumers and would do little to stop China’s allegedly bad behavior on intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer. The List 4 goods targeted for Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent include “many products Bose imports” to the U.S. from China, commented the manufacturer, posted Monday. Bose products earmarked for List 4 tariffs “generally do not incorporate the types of technology targeted” by China’s IP and tech transfer policies, said the manufacturer. Bose forecasts it will import $450 million worth of goods from China this year. Though the administration claims to have tried to avoid placing tariffs on consumer products, “there is simply no way to protect consumers from tariffs” on List 4, said the Information Technology Industry Council. List 4 includes “finished computing devices and accessories that are used widely," ITI said. Lists 1, 2 and 3 “already placed duties on various types of computer monitors, screens, and networking equipment,” it said: “List 4 tariffs will mean that every single office and home computing machine from printers to standalone desktops to landline telephones -- and even the cables that connect them -- will become more expensive for all" in the U.S. LCD modules Sharp imports from China are used in “a wide array of products” manufactured in the U.S., including cars, watches and phones, commented the company: “Punitive” tariffs on LCD modules would imperil many of those jobs “located within the US manufacturing heartland of the Midwest,” in states “that are so crucial to the President’s upcoming re-election campaign.” Also Monday, tech and other interests testified at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative against List 4 duties (see 1906170066).

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 10-14 in case they were missed.

The List 4 goods targeted for Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent include “many products Bose imports” to the U.S. from China, the manufacturer said in comments posted June 17 in docket USTR-2019-0004. The “proposed remedy” for curbing China’s allegedly unfair trade practices “should avoid causing disproportionate and direct economic harm to U.S. consumers,” Bose said.

IRobot CEO Colin Angle has firsthand knowledge of the intellectual property abuses Chinese companies engage in, he testified Monday on the opening day of Trump administration hearings on the proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. But Angle asked the administration not to impose tariffs on the robotic goods it sources from China because his firm, which employs 700 in the U.S., is satisfied with China as a manufacturing platform.

The List 4 goods targeted for Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent include “many products Bose imports” to the U.S. from China, commented the manufacturer, posted Monday in docket USTR-2019-0004. The “proposed remedy” for curbing China’s allegedly unfair trade practices “should avoid causing disproportionate and direct economic harm to U.S. consumers,” said Bose.