Lift Tariffs on ‘Healthcare-Essential’ ICT Products to Fight Pandemic, ITI Urges

The Trump administration should “lift” the Section 301 tariffs on more than 60 categories of “healthcare-essential” information and communications technology (ICT) products to help the U.S. fight the COVID-19 pandemic, urged the Information Technology Industry Council. “Relief” from the tariffs “would directly contribute to the U.S. economic and public health response to the current crisis,” ITI said. “A range of ICT products and components are at the heart of detecting and treating illnesses, recording and tracking vital signs, and conducting tests,” it said. Processors, controllers and integrated circuits, for example, imported from China under the 8542.31.00 tariff code are “foundational to a variety of medical equipment,” it said. List 2 tariffs on 8542.31.00 goods were imposed in August 2018 and are still in effect at 25%. Lifting the tariffs “will help to alleviate the strain on the healthcare system in the midst of dealing with COVID-19,” ITI said. “Tariffs act as direct impediments to U.S. governments, consumers and businesses, and we would encourage the removal of tariffs by any means to increase confidence in the COVID-19 response and support economic recovery.” While others, including Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have urged the administration to defer the tariffs for 90 days, ITI is asking for the duties’ outright removal.