Trump’s New Tariffs Include Chinese Lighting Products

September 20, 2018

An updated list of approximately US$200 billion worth of Chinese imports that are subject to additional tariffs contains a number of lighting products. 

These new American tariffs, in the amount of 10%, took effect on September 24. Starting January 1, 2019, the level of the additional tariffs will increase to 25%. Hours after Trump announced the additional tariffs, the Chinese government announced it would have no choice but to retaliate with more tariffs of its own.

The American list contains 5,745 full or partial lines of the original 6,031 tariff lines that were on a proposed list of Chinese imports announced on July 10, 2018. Changes to the proposed list were made after Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the interagency Section 301 Committee sought and received comments over a six-week period and testimony during a six-day public hearing in August. 

A list of affected lighting products appears below. 

• 9405.10.40 — Chandeliers and other electric ceiling or wall lighting fittings (o/than used for public spaces), of brass
• 9405.10.60 — Chandeliers and other electric ceiling or wall lighting fixtures (o/than used for public spaces), of base metal (o/than brass)
• 9405.10.80 — Chandeliers and other electric ceiling or wall lighting fixtures (o/than used for public spaces), not of base metal
• 9405.20.40 — Electric table, desk, bedside or floor‐standing lamps, of brass
• 9405.20.60 — Electric table, desk, bedside or floor‐standing lamps, of base metal (o/than brass)
• 9405.20.80 — Electric table, desk, bedside or floor‐standing lamps, not of base metal
• 9405.30.00 — Lighting sets of a kind used for Christmas trees
• 9405.40.40  — Electric lamps and lighting fixtures nesoi, of brass
• 9405.40.60 — Electric lamps and lighting fixtures nesoi, of base metal (o/than brass)
• 9405.40.82 — LEDs for backlighting of LCDs
• 9405.40.84 — Electric lamps and lighting fixtures nesoi, not of base metal
• 9405.50.20 — Non‐electrical incandescent lamps designed to be operated by propane or other gas, or by compressed air and kerosene or gasoline
• 9405.50.30 — Non‐electrical lamps and lighting fixtures nesoi, of brass
• 9405.50.40 — Non‐electrical lamps and lighting fixtures nesoi, not of brass
• 9405.60.20 — Illuminated signs, illuminated name plates and the like, of brass
• 9405.60.40 — Illuminated signs, illuminated name plates and the like, of base metal (o/than brass) 9405.60.60 — Illuminated signs, illuminated name plates and the like, not of base metal
• 9405.91.10 — Parts of lamps, lighting fittings, illuminated signs & the like, globes and shades, of lead crystal glass
• 9405.91.30 — Parts of lamps, lighting fittings, illuminated signs & the like, globes and shades, of glass (o/than lead crystal)
• 9405.91.40 — Parts of lamps, lighting fittings, illuminated signs & the like, chimneys, of glass
• 9405.91.60 — Parts of lamps, lighting fixtures, illuminated signs & the like, of glass nesoi
• 9405.92.00 — Parts of lamps, lighting fixtures, illuminated signs & the like, of plastics
• 9405.99.20 — Parts of lamps, lighting fixtures, illuminated signs & the like, of brass
• 9405.99.40 — Parts of lamps, lighting fixtures, illuminated signs & the like, not of glass, plastics or brass

See the full list of products here: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/Tariff List-09.17.18.pdf

China has promised retaliatory action. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news briefing that “China has always emphasized that the only correct way to resolve the China-U.S. trade issue is via talks and consultations held on an equal, sincere and mutually respectful basis. But at this time, everything the United States does not give the impression of sincerity or goodwill,” he added.

Kenneth Jarrett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said three quarters of its members will be hit by the tariffs, and they will not bring jobs back to the United States.