Senators Shaheen, Moran Secure Commitment from U.S. Trade Representative to Implement Exclusion Process for Third Round of Tariffs on Goods from China

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), leaders of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, announced that they have secured a commitment from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding an exclusion process for the third tranche of tariffs applied to goods from China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

“As the trade war with China continues to escalate, it is critical that American manufacturers and businesses have the opportunity to apply for an exclusion from the tariffs,” the Senators said. “As leaders of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, we have secured a commitment from the U.S. Trade Representative to implement an exclusion process for the third round of tariffs on China. We must reach a deal that eliminates these harmful tariffs, while also addressing China’s bad behavior on trade policy. Until that occurs, we will work with USTR to ensure a fair exclusion process be made available to manufacturers and companies impacted by the tariffs as soon as possible.”

Items to Note:  

• On March 12, 2019, Senators Shaheen and Moran sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer requesting an exclusion process.
• Included in Senator Shaheen and Moran’s FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is report language requiring that USTR “establish an exclusion process for tariffs imposed on goods subject to Section 301 tariffs in round 3.”