No ‘Non-China Sources’ Exist for LCD-Panel Components, Says Element Tariff Exclusion Request

The LCD TV panel assemblies that Element imports for putting finished sets together in South Carolina “are not currently commercially available from any country other than China,” said the vendor in a List 4A Section 301 tariff exclusion request posted Friday at the Office of U.S. Trade Representative’s public docket. “Element is exploring options for alternative sources of supply, but no non-China sources are currently available,” said the vendor, which supplies LCD TVs to Walmart and other big-box retailers and consistently places within the top tier of TV unit-share leaders. An International Trade Commission and Commerce Department Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) “review” confirmed “there is no US production of LCD panel assemblies,” said Element. It got a temporary suspension of the 4.5 percent duties on the LCD panel assemblies it sources from China under the 9013.80.90 tariff line through an MTB Act that President Donald Trump signed last September to promote U.S. production at companies that rely on small-volume imports (see 1904260021). The 9013.80.90 goods were tariffed at 15 percent when the List 4A duties took effect Sept. 1.