Blog
AHPA seeks removal of Chinese herb tariffs in US Trade Representative review
January 24, 2023
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) seeking the removal of punitive tariffs on a range of Chinese imported products relevant to the herbal products and dietary supplements industries. The tariffs, part of a series of trade actions implemented during the previous administration, have had significant adverse impacts on the supply chains for herbal ingredients and product packaging. AHPA had submitted comments requesting the removal of tariffs affecting the herbal products industry at the time of the tariff listings, and has sought similar relief in subsequent communication with the USTR.
AHPA's comments were submitted to the docket for a USTR statutory review of the necessity and impact of the tariffs, a procedure required four years after their introduction. Along with communicating the harmful effects of the tariffs, AHPA's comments emphasized that the tariffs do not accomplish their stated purpose of addressing Chinese technology transfer and intellectual property practices. AHPA also stated that it was infeasible to develop alternate sources for many herbal commodities traditionally sourced from China.
AHPA's comments on the statutory review are available here.
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