Toy Association Signs Coalition Letter Against Tariffs on Chinese Imports

January 18, 2023 | The Toy Association joined more than 150 other trade associations and groups that signed onto an Americans for Free Trade (AFT) letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai. The coalition letter urges for the current administration to remove Section 301 tariffs that were implemented in 2018 as part of the investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation.

“For the last four years, we have raised concerns that imposing tariffs would have little positive impact on Chinese behavior and disproportionate negative economic impacts on American businesses, workers, and consumers. Unfortunately, that concern has become a reality,” the letter says.

U.S. Customs Border Protection has assessed more than $165 billion in Section 301 tariffs since April 2018, according to the coalition. The letter stresses that tariffs have failed to achieve their goals, make U.S. manufacturers less competitive globally, contribute to inflation, increase costs for American consumers, and hurt the overall U.S. economy.

The request also advocates for a public hearing and for the USTR to create a more robust exclusion process for what imports will not be tariffed. There is currently no set of guidelines or insight as to why some exclusions were granted and others were denied, and the exclusions themselves were temporary. Most of the exclusions previously granted have expired, leading to more tariff payments by U.S. companies.

The Toy Association will keep members apprised of any developments on this issue. Members may contact Jennifer Gibbons, vice president of government affairs at The Toy Association, with any questions.