China’s importers apply for tariff waivers on US goods

Thursday, 6 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A labourer loads coal in a truck next to containers outside a logistics center near Tianjin Port, in northern China - REUTERS

BEIJING (Reuters): Chinese importers are preparing applications for waivers on import tariffs levied on more than 700 US goods in the Sino-US trade war, after the Ministry of Finance said it would start taking submissions.

A list of goods on which waivers may be granted includes meats such as beef and pork, soybeans, coal and copper scrap, according to a ministry website.

The waivers are for tariffs imposed in July last year on $50 billion worth of US goods in retaliation for similar measures taken by Washington. Beijing has since imposed additional tariffs on thousands of goods as a bitter trade war has escalated.

“We’re preparing our application, we’ll soon submit our materials,” said Shi Lei, a manager at meat importer Beijing Hopewise. “This is good news for us.”

Beijing said last month that it would start a waiver program, amid growing worries over the cost of the protracted trade war on its already slowing economy.

Other goods on the list include tractors, motorbikes, mountain bikes and some pieces of medical equipment.

Applicants have from 3 June to 5 July to apply for these waivers. A second batch of waivers will be granted on tariffs that were imposed on $60 billion worth of goods in September last year.

The application process for those waivers will open on 2 September, the ministry said.

“Applicants must be interested parties of imports in China, including importers, consumers and industrial associations,” it said in a statement, adding that some waivers could be applied retroactively.

Industrial associations were encouraged to represent their members to make applications.

Applicants needed to explain if the tariffs “have caused serious economic damage” to the applicant and the industry. They also needed to explain if there were alternatives for US goods imports.

The ministry did not say when waivers would be granted.

In May China hiked tariffs on US goods and a revised $60 billion target list, hitting back at a tariff hike by Washington on $200 billion of Chinese goods in a further escalation of the trade war.