TCNA Weighs in on U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Imports

Anderson, SC, April 3, 2018-In a recent letter to Tile Council of North America (TCNA) members, executive director Eric Astrachan addressed President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. Ultimately, the TCNA would like to see ceramic tile imports from China be included on the list of products on which tariffs are imposed.

David Spooner, the TCNA’s government affairs counsel in D.C., noted that the United States Trade Representative “has prepared a list of products that would be subject to import tariffs; this product list is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday and would be followed by a 60-day public comment period.” It is believed that products on the list are most high-tech; tile is not expected to be on the list.

Says Astrachan, “TCNA and its government affairs team are working with the U.S. Trade Representative, the Commerce Department, the White House Council of Economic Advisors, and with key members of Congress to assess whether there will be a ‘real’ opportunity to add products to the China retaliation list and, if so, to push for inclusion of unfairly traded Chinese tile. We will also participate in the upcoming comment period.”