The American Apparel & Footwear Association on Sept. Officials have even hinted more products could be added to the tariff list. President Joe Biden has left the so-called Section 301 tariffs in place despite complaints that they are raising prices for Americans and are ineffective in changing China’s behavior. The Trump administration in four stages imposed significant tariffs on $550 billion worth of annual Chinese imports for alleged discriminatory trade practices. government excluded protective gear from China tariffs to help alleviate a domestic shortage at the start of the COVID pandemic. 14 while the USTR office reviews whether to extend the carve-out for six months. Meanwhile, exemptions on tariffs for 99 Chinese-made types of personal protective equipment were set to expire Sept. The USTR said it will evaluate, case by case, the possible reinstatement of each exclusion. Of the more than 2,200 exclusions that were granted, 549 had been extended, but they expired at the end of 2020. Applicants had to give reasons why a product should be exempt, such as a lack of domestic supply or availability at a reasonable price. Importers did receive some good news this week when the administration finally said it would reinstate the general exclusion process for products subject to China tariffs. So far, the Biden administration has resisted calls from the business community to lift the tariffs on half a trillion dollars of Chinese goods. trade representative has extended for 45 days tariff exemptions on face masks and related medical care products made in China, but a major trade association says the exemptions’ scope should be widened and more Trump-era tariffs should be rolled back to help businesses cope with rising import costs associated with unprecedented port congestion. The Forum at FreightWaves LIVE (Fall 2019).Podcasts: FreightWaves FreightCasts Network.