This piece was originally published in the August 2018 issue of electroindustry.

NEMA testified at a public hearing July 24 on proposals made June 20 by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to place 25 percent tariffs on a range of specific products from China, including certain electric motors, electricity meters, insulating materials, and wire and cable products. See NEMA Urges Administration to Minimize Collateral Damage from Tariffs. The new proposals build on a list of products for which the U.S. implemented 25 percent tariffs on July 6, including approximately 100 product areas of direct interest to NEMA. Those areas accounted for over $8 billion of the total $34 billion of Chinese shipments targeted on July 6.

Also on July 6, USTR announced a process by which companies can petition to have a specific product exempted from the tariffs for one year, retroactive to July 6. That process closes October 9, 2018.

NEMA is also monitoring the impact of steel and aluminum import tariffs on Members and staying in close contact with Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch trade agencies. For more information on tariffs and trade, consult the NEMA Intelligence Portal, contact Craig Updyke at craig.updyke@nema.org, and follow NEMA’s social media posts.