The USTR published today a new list of products representing approximately $300 billion in goods from China that will be assessed Section 301 tariffs up to 25%. The list covers almost all products heretofore not covered in the prior lists. This list therefore includes textiles, apparel, footwear, digital cameras, smartphones, and toys. The list does exclude pharmaceuticals, certain pharmaceutical inputs, select medical goods, rare earth materials, and critical materials. Products from list#1 that were granted an exclusion will also not be affected.

List #4 will now undergo a commentary period. This commentary period is important as it gives importers some time frame to guide them towards when actual implementation of list#4 might take place. The important dates are as follows:

• June 10, 2019: Due date for filing requests to appear and a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing.
• June 17, 2019: Due date for submission of written comments.
• June 17, 2019: The Section 301 Committee will convene a public hearing in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission
• Seven days after the last day of the public hearing: Due date for submission of post-hearing rebuttal comments.

We are not sure if the date of the public hearing is accurate as typically the hearing would be after the submission of written comments, not on the same date. However we have to assume the June 17, 2019 public hearing date is accurate until corrected.