10 Senators Ask USTR for Exclusion Process for Third Tranche of Section 301 Tariffs

A letter from 10 Democratic senators to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer complained about the fact that no exclusion process has been set up for the nearly $200 billion in goods from China subject to an additional 10 percent tariff under Section 301. Sen. Tim Kaine, who led the letter, asked why there hasn't been an exclusion process for the third tranche, while there is one for the first and second rounds of the tariffs. The senators urged that an exclusion process be established immediately, given that this third tranche of tariffs is set to increase to 25 percent on Jan. 1. Kaine also asked if there is any intention to implement an exclusion application process, and if so, how it will be implemented. A group of House lawmakers also asked Lighthizer about the exclusions process earlier this month (see 1810160049). A Republican Senate trade staffer said Oct. 23 that USTR is not pursuing an exclusion process for this larger list. He said the office still hasn't granted any exclusions from the first two lists, and allowing applications for the third tranche would be a logistical problem.