USTR Delaying Section 301 Modifications Again

Higher or new Section 301 action on Chinese goods such as batteries, EVs, plug-in hybrids, ship-to-shore cranes, solar cells and panels, syringes, needles, critical minerals, some metals will not go up until at least September, as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has missed a second self-imposed deadline. The proposed changes, first announced in May, said some tariffs would go up on Aug. 1, but on July 30, the office said it had not finished responding to more than 1,100 comments, and it would make a final determination in August (see 2407300047).

On Aug. 30, the office said it was still working on the final modifications, and that they would be announced "in the coming days."

While some of the products were expected to see higher tariffs this summer, others were scheduled for Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. For those that will be hiked in 2024, the office said the new rates "will take effect approximately two weeks after it makes the final determination public."