Various Construction-Related Products Targeted for Tariffs

On April 3, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office released a proposed list of 1,333 Chinese products subject to additional 25 percent tariffs. The list includes items that could negatively impact the American construction industry and includes but is not limited to: concrete or mortar mixers, electric signaling items for traffic or safety control, elevators and conveyors, various metal piping, tower cranes, tunneling machinery, and water pumps. AGC encourages contractors to review the list and share with AGC any items of particular concern. U.S. companies have until May 11 to comment on the proposed product list.

Totaling $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, the target list is designed to close the United States’ $375 billion goods deficit with China and stems from a seven month-long Section 301 investigation into China’s state-directed practice of forced technology transfers and intellectual property theft. The U.S. tariff announcement came just one day after China announced its own tariffs on $3 billion worth of American goods, targeting 128 products (15 percent duty on 120 products including fruits, wine, nuts, and steel pipes; 20 percent duty on eight products including recycled aluminum and pork) in response to the steel and aluminum tariffs. On April 4, China retaliated once again, issuing its own additional 25 percent tariffs on a list of 106 American products valued at $50 billion.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has until August 18 to finalize the list, after which President Trump legally has 180 days to impose the finalized tariffs.

For more information, contact Collin Janich at collin.janich@agc.org or (703) 837-5435.