NEMA Wants 14 Product Lines Struck From List 4 Tariffs, Says It Represents 360,000 Jobs

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association wants 14 Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings removed from the proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports (see 1905140025), commented the trade group in docket USTR-2019-0004 in its request to testify at hearings that begin June 17. More exclusion requests could be forthcoming when it testifies at the hearing, it said. The requests so far cover a broad swath of products and components, such as “longitudinally welded” steel (HTS 7305.31.20), lithium-ion batteries (8507.60.00), flashlights (8513.10.20), loudspeakers (8518.29.80) and LED lamps (8539.50.00). NEMA represents about 325 manufacturers whose “combined industries account for 360,000 American jobs in more than 7,000 facilities covering every state,” it said. “These industries produce $106 billion in shipments and $36 billion in exports of electrical equipment and medical imaging technologies per year.” Monday at midnight EDT is the deadline for requests to give oral testimony at the hearings. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is expected to release a schedule of witnesses for the hearings by June 14. Post-hearing rebuttal comments will be due seven days after the hearings end.