USTR initiates second four-year review of China Section 301 tariffs
The continuation of certain tariffs on Chinese imports depends on requests from domestic industries during a 60-day window.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today released a notice announcing the initiation of the second statutory four-year review of two trade actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 against China, which could lead to the termination of the tariffs if domestic industries do not request their continuation.
Background
The review concerns two sets of tariffs imposed in 2018 on Chinese imports following an investigation into the country’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The first action, effective July 6, 2018, imposed an additional 25% duty on Chinese products with an approximate annual trade value of $34 billion. The second, effective August 23, 2018, imposed an additional 25% duty on products with an approximate annual trade value of $16 billion. These actions have since been modified to include additional tariffs on other products as well as a product exclusion process.
Review process and key dates
Under the Trade Act, these actions will terminate on their four-year anniversary unless representatives of domestic industries that benefit from them submit a request for their continuation. USTR has provided two 60-day windows for these requests to be submitted via its online portal:
- For the July 6, 2018, action: Requests will be accepted from May 7, 2026, through July 5, 2026.
- For the August 23, 2018, action: Requests will be accepted from June 24, 2026, through August 22, 2026.
If USTR receives one or more requests to continue the actions, it will announce their continuation and proceed to a second phase of the review. This next phase will include an opportunity for public comments on the effectiveness of the tariffs and other potential actions.