Delay in Tariffs Was Done for Christmas Season, Trump Says

President Donald Trump said he delayed the imposition of 10 percent Section 301 tariffs on hundreds of Chinese products "for Christmas season, just in case some of the tariffs would have an impact on U.S. customers, which, so far, they've had virtually none. The only impact has been that we've collected almost $60 billion from China -- compliments of China."

Trump said members of his administration had a "very productive call" with China on Aug. 12, and they said again they're going to buy farm products. "So far, they've disappointed me" by not following through, he said.

About 3,230 tariff lines will still face a 10 percent tariff on Sept. 1, including some consumer products, such as TVs, clothing, shoes, camping and sporting equipment, table linens, bedding, dishes, batteries, snowmobiles, mopeds, books, cameras, and musical instruments.

About 540 tariff lines will not face the tariff until Dec. 15, including some clothing and shoes, cell phones, laptops, tablets, umbrellas, sinks, games, video game consoles, some sporting equipment, some watches and clocks and baby items spared from previous lists.

"It appears the administration understands that taxes on everyday products such as toys, clothes and electronics would be politically unpopular and hurt those who can least afford it," Tariffs Hurt the Heartland said. "Unfortunately, today’s announcement doesn’t address the vast majority of tariffs that are driving uncertainty, putting farmers out of business and causing small businesses to slow hiring."

The National Retail Federation responded saying that the Sept. 1 tariffs will slow the economy, though they are pleased the administration is delaying some tariffs so that Christmas sales won't be affected. "During this delay period, we urge the administration to develop an effective strategy to address China’s unfair trade practices by working with our allies instead of using unilateral tariffs that cost American jobs and hurt consumers,” the NRF said.

Out of the nearly 4,000 tariff lines that were included in the proposed List 4 in May, only 25 lines did not make the final version of either the Sept. 1 or the Dec. 15 lists. These tariff lines cover child car seats, cranes used to unload shipping containers, Bibles, shipping containers, and certain fish that are generally caught in U.S. waters but processed in China, as follows:

• 0303.69.00 - Other fish in Bregmacerotidae et al,etc. frozen, excluding fillets, other meat portions, livers and roes.
• 0304.71.10 - Frozen cod fillets, skinned, in blocks weighing over 4.5 kg, to be minced, ground or cut into pieces of uniform weight and dimension.
• 0304.71.50 - Fillets, frozen, of cod, other than above.
• 0304.72.10 - Frozen haddock fillets, skinned, in blocks weighing over 4.5 kg, to be minced, ground or cut into pieces of uniform weight and dimension.
• 0304.81.10 - Frozen salmon fillets, skinned, in blocks weighing over 4.5 kg, to be minced, ground or cut into pieces of uniform weight.
• 0304.81.50 - Other frozen salmon fillets.
• 0304.95.90 - Bregamacerotidae other fish, other than Alaska pollack, nesoi, chilled or frozen fillets,nesoi.
• 2511.10.10 - Natural barium sulfate (barytes), ground.
• 2511.10.50 - Natural barium sulfate (barytes), not ground.
• 2816.40.20 - Oxides, hydroxides and peroxides of barium.
• 2818.20.00 - Aluminum oxide, other than artificial corundum.
• 2826.90.90 - Other complex fluorine salts, nesoi.
• 2827.49.50 - Chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides other than of copper or of vanadium.
• 2844.40.00 - Radioactive elements, isotopes, compounds nesoi; alloys, dispersions, ceramic products and mixtures of these products; radioactive residues.
• 3606.90.30 - Ferrocerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms.
• 4901.99.0040 - Bibles, testaments, prayer books and other religious books
• 8109.20.00 - Zirconium, unwrought; zirconium powders.
• 8112.92.60 - Germanium, unwrought.
• 8426.11.00 - Overhead traveling cranes on fixed support.
• 8426.12.00 - Mobile lifting frames on tires and straddle carriers.
• 8426.19.00 - Transporter cranes, gantry cranes and bridge cranes.
• 8426.20.00 - Tower cranes.
• 8609.00.00 - Containers (including containers for transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport.
• 9401.80.6021 - Child safety seats with detachable hard-shell seat
• 9401.80.6023 - child safety seats, nesoi.