China Hard-Surface Tariffs: Now 25%?

WASHINGTON – The proposed 10% tariff on a long list of Chinese imports, including dimensional hard surfaces, is heading to 25% while seeking public comment on the action..

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, in an Aug. 1 statement, that President Donald Trump asked for the hike of the ad valorem (add-on) tariff on $200 billion of imported goods from China.

The list of goods, with more than 6,000 product categories, includes nearly all dimensional natural stone, agglomerated slabs (which include quartz surfaces) and an assortment of other hard surfaces, including some ceramic tiles.

“The Trump Administration continues to urge China to stop its unfair practices, open its market, and engage in true market competition,” noted Lighthizer in a statement. “We have been very clear about the specific changes China should undertake. Regrettably, instead of changing its harmful behavior, China has illegally retaliated against U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses.”

The public-comment period on the 25% tariff figure will be extended from sometime this month to Sept. 5. There is no proposed date for any decision on the new tariff.

In a related move on Aug. 3, China’s Ministry of Commerce is preparing tariffs of 15% to 25% on approximately $60 billion in U.S. exports to that country. The list of 128 products doesn’t include any hard-surface products; the tariffs target dried fruits and nuts, wine, pork products, ginseng and stainless-steel pipes.

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