The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the next steps in imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on approximately $300 billion of Chinese imports. Tariffs on certain products have been delayed to December 15 but the bulk of products on the list are subject to tariffs starting September 1.

The USTR reports that as part of its public comment and hearing process, it determined that tariffs should be delayed to December 15 for certain goods including cell phones, laptop computers, video game consoles, specific toys, computer monitors, and certain footwear and clothing items. USTR intends to conduct an exclusion process for products subject to the additional tariff and will publish additional details and lists of the tariff lines affected in the Federal Register as soon as possible.

Data from the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) shows that 77 percent of all apparel, footwear and home textile products imported to the U.S. from China will still be hit with the additional 10-percent tariff on September 1, amounting to approximately $39 billion worth of goods.

“By no means is this a win or a de-escalation,” said Rick Helfenbein, president and CEO of the AAFA. “Several claims made by the administration are confusing and not supported by action. The administration claims to have removed products from the list for reasons of ‘health, safety, national security and other factors,’ however, it is hard to see how this logic was applied, since items like infant apparel, allergy-resistant bedding and protective footwear are still on the list. Meanwhile, items that were removed from previous tariff lists are now being freshly taxed, including items like machinery and textiles used to make products in America.”

Tariff List Four-A, which goes into effect September 1, is available here. List Four-B, which goes into effect December 15, is available here.