USTR Keeps Two China Tariff Actions in Force

Two U.S. tariff actions on Chinese goods tied to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation will remain in force as modified after the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative confirmed they did not expire on their 2026 four-year anniversaries.

The actions date to July 6 and Aug. 23, 2018. USTR recorded 68 continuation requests from domestic producers and 18 from trade associations for the July action, and 57 producer requests and 19 association requests for the August action. Those figures are requests, not necessarily counts of unique firms or people.

The continuation follows the first step of the second four-year review, announced May 6. USTR said it will issue separate notice or notices outlining the review and inviting comments on the actions’ effectiveness, possible alternatives and effects on the U.S. economy, including consumers. Requesters argued the measures addressed China’s practices and supported U.S. industry; those are their claims, not findings established by the continuation notice.

The Oct. 7 notice does not announce new tariff rates or product-coverage changes, and it gives no deadline for comments. The actions’ applicable terms remain in effect as modified.