US invites companies to apply for exclusions from Chinese tariffs

The office of the US Trade Representative has given companies affected by Friday’s tariff imposition a 90-day window to apply for exclusions from the duties on Chinese imports, reports Reuters.

The announcement came only hours after the 25% tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese industrial imports came into effect on Friday morning. The tariffs reach 818 product categories, from autos to LEDs and heavy machinery – industries China is actively trying to promote as part of its ‘Made in China’ 2025 initiative.

“In making its determination on each request, USTR may consider whether a product is available from a source outside of China, whether the additional duties would cause severe economic harm to the requestor or other US interests and whether the particular product is strategically important or related to Chinese industrial programs,” the official statement read.

Any exclusions offered will last a year dating from last Friday.