International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 11-15 in case they were missed.

The American information and communications technology (ICT) sector is bearing an especially heavy burden from the “bilateral tariff escalation” between the U.S. and China, Rhodium Group Senior Analyst Lauren Gloudeman told reporters on a conference call, summarizing the findings of a Rhodium report for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (see 1903140001). For the report, released Friday, Rhodium did a "quantitative assessment" of the escalation's costs and found the impact is “unambiguously severe” on the ICT industry, she said.

Cree, an early flag-waver for LED technology during the government-mandated transition to energy-efficient lighting (see 1405090068), agreed to sell its lighting products business unit to Ideal Industries for about $310 million, it said Friday. Cree expects to receive an initial cash payment of $225 million, subject to purchase price adjustments, and could receive a targeted earn-out payment of $85 million based on accounting metrics over a 12-month period two years after the transaction closes, expected in fiscal Q3.

A Rhodium Group report prepared for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that the American information and communication technology sector is bearing an especially heavy burden from the “bilateral tariff escalation” between the U.S. and China, senior Rhodium analyst Lauren Gloudeman told reporters on a conference call March 15. The report found the costs of the escalation are “unambiguously severe” on the ICT industry, she said.

Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports would reduce U.S. GDP by up to $1 trillion within a decade if left in place, concluded a Rhodium Group study for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The tariffs are “eroding” U.S. “competitiveness” in information and communication technology and “undermining globalized supply chains,” said the chamber, which plans to release the report Friday. “U.S. tariffs, together with Chinese retaliation, are disrupting global trade and supply chains, further damaging American businesses, workers, farmers, ranchers and investors,” commented the chamber in August, arguing unsuccessfully against imposition of the List 3 tariffs that took effect Sept. 24. The three rounds of tariffs imposed since July are costing the tech industry $1 billion a month in higher fees, estimated CTA in December (see 1812140045). U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in two recent appearances before Congress, refused to say if a trade deal with China hinges on lifting the tariffs or keeping them in place to enforce Chinese compliance (see 1903130036).

Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports would reduce U.S. GDP by up to $1 trillion within a decade if left in place, concluded a Rhodium Group study for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The tariffs are “eroding” U.S. “competitiveness” in information and communication technology and “undermining globalized supply chains,” said the chamber, which plans to release the report Friday. “U.S. tariffs, together with Chinese retaliation, are disrupting global trade and supply chains, further damaging American businesses, workers, farmers, ranchers and investors,” commented the chamber in August, arguing unsuccessfully against imposition of the List 3 tariffs that took effect Sept. 24. The three rounds of tariffs imposed since July are costing the tech industry $1 billion a month in higher fees, estimated CTA in December (see 1812140045). U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in two recent appearances before Congress, refused to say if a trade deal with China hinges on lifting the tariffs or keeping them in place to enforce Chinese compliance (see 1903130036).

Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports would reduce U.S. GDP by up to $1 trillion within a decade if left in place, concluded a Rhodium Group study for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The tariffs are “eroding” U.S. “competitiveness” in information and communication technology and “undermining globalized supply chains,” said the chamber, which plans to release the report Friday. “U.S. tariffs, together with Chinese retaliation, are disrupting global trade and supply chains, further damaging American businesses, workers, farmers, ranchers and investors,” commented the chamber in August, arguing unsuccessfully against imposition of the List 3 tariffs that took effect Sept. 24. The three rounds of tariffs imposed since July are costing the tech industry $1 billion a month in higher fees, estimated CTA in December (see 1812140045). U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in two recent appearances before Congress, refused to say if a trade deal with China hinges on lifting the tariffs or keeping them in place to enforce Chinese compliance (see 1903130036).

It's OK for AT&T to stop providing Lifeline discounts to most Ohio landline customers June 11, decided the Ohio Public Utilities Commission (PUCO). Commissioners voted 4-0 Wednesday to approve an AT&T application to end participation in the federal program (see 1809270031), said a Wednesday order in case 17-1948-TP-UNC. AT&T has 7,301 Ohio landline customers, PUCO said. Staff said wireless Lifeline providers cover 99.85 percent of AT&T Ohio’s affected territory. Affected customers unable to find an alternative Lifeline provider should tell PUCO by Aug. 10, it said. “The PUCO will assist customers in finding an alternative Lifeline provider, and if one does not exist, AT&T Ohio will continue to provide a discount for an additional year.” The company also seeks to give up ETC status in Alaska (see 1812190029).

Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports would reduce U.S. GDP by up to $1 trillion within a decade if left in place, concluded a Rhodium Group study for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The tariffs are “eroding” U.S. “competitiveness” in information and communication technology and “undermining globalized supply chains,” the study says. The report is to be released March 15.

With the second round of announcements on Section 301 exclusions (see 1903010029), trade professionals are trying to find patterns of what is granted -- so far, 985 requests -- and what has been denied -- a little over 4,500. About 3,300 requests on hundreds of tariff lines have been tentatively approved by USTR, if CBP says the exclusions are administrable. Nicole Bivens Collinson, who leads the international trade and government relations practice at Sandler Travis, said that if all of those were to go through, about 45 percent of all requests would have been approved.