Bose ‘Actively Pursuing’ Sourcing Goods Outside China, It Says In 2 Tariff-Exclusion Requests

Bose said it’s “actively pursuing” production-sourcing outside China for the two categories of products for which it applied Friday for exclusions from the 15 percent List 4A Section 301 tariffs that took effect Sept. 1. The S1 Pro Bluetooth portable speaker system that Bose imports under the 8518.22.00.00 tariff code “is built to unique specifications and is currently produced only in China,” said one tariff request posted in the U.S. Trade Representative’s public docket. “We are exploring alternatives, but it will require a significant amount of time and investment to move manufacturing.” The S1 Pro sells for $599 to a wide variety of target audiences, including campers and amateur DJs. The noise-cancelling wireless headphones Bose sources from China under the 8517.62.00.90 tariff code contain a “microphone system that automatically adapts to the user’s environment to isolate voice from competing background noises,” said Bose in its other exclusion request. Bose markets several models of noise-cancelling wireless headphones, but the exclusion request was not product-specific as it was for the S1 Pro. Bose in both requests blocked as “business confidential” its arguments for seeking an exemption, including its discussion of efforts to find sourcing in the U.S. or third countries. Public responses for or against the exclusion requests are due Dec. 6 in the public docket, and Bose would have seven days to reply. Bose didn’t comment Friday.