Public comment is being accepted regarding tariffs on flax, hemp seed, ginseng, mushrooms, fish oils, minerals and more.

July 17, 2018

2 Min Read
New tariffs proposed on many Chinese herb, supplement ingredients
Getty Images

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is proposing an additional 10 percent ad valorem duty on numerous Chinese imports that have an annual trade value of approximately $200 billion.

The American Herbal Products Association is contacting it members to find out if and how the proposed tariffs would affect them.

Based on initial replies, it appears that numerous imported ingredients may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings identified in USTR’s proposed modification,” AHPA president Michael McGuffin said. “We will continue to evaluate the potential impact of this new round of tariffs on U.S.-based dietary supplement marketers and seek member and industry input as we prepare comments to USTR in this matter.”

AHPA members are encouraged to review the HTSUS subheadings listed in USTR’s proposed modification and check with their import brokers to understand the potential impact of this newly proposed action.

The Chinese products that would be subjected to this proposed tariff includes many herbal and plant-derived substances, as well as a number of other ingredients found in dietary supplements. Possibly relevant HTSUS subheadings include, among others:

  • 0712.31: Dried mushrooms

  • 0712.90: Dried vegetables [various, including garlic, fennel, parsley, and “Dried vegetables nesoi, and mixtures of dried vegetables, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder, but not further prepared”]

  • 0814.00: Citrus peel

  • 1204.00.00: Flaxseed (linseed)

  • 1207.99.03: Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits whether or not broken, incl niger seeds, hemp seeds and seeds nesoi

  • 1211.20.10: Ginseng roots, fresh or dried, whether or not cut, crushed or powdered

  • 1211.90.20: Mint leaves, crude or not manufactured, of a kind used in perfumery, in pharmacy or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes

  • 1211.90.92: Plants, parts of plants (including seeds and fruits), used in perfumery, pharmacy, insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes, other, fresh or dried

  • 1212.21.00: Seaweeds and other algae, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground, fit for human consumption

  • 1504.10-20: Fish oils and their fractions

  • 2805.12.00: Calcium [Note: Various calcium salts are listed separately, including carbonate, “natural” phosphates, etc., or assumed addressed in certain “salts and esters” listings]

  • 2918.15.50: Salts and esters of citric acid

  • 2918.16.50: Salts and esters of gluconic acid

  • 3104.20.00: Potassium chloride [Note: Other potassium salts are listed separately or assumed addressed in certain “salts and esters” listings]

This proposal modifies the Trade Representative’s initial 25 percent tariff imposed on July 6 that have an annual trade value of $34 billion. The representative also is considering a 25 percent tariff on a separate list of Chinese products that has an annual trade value of about $16 billion.

USTR’s newest proposed modification follows China’s response to the initial U.S. action, in which it imposed its own increased duties on goods of the United States. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported that Wisconsin ginseng farmers are already feeling the effects of China’s 15 percent tariff on U.S. ginseng.

Regarding the newly proposed duties, USTR is seeking public comment through Aug. 17. The office will hold a public hearing on August 20-23.

 

Source: American Herbal Products Association 

Subscribe and receive the latest updates on trends, data, events and more.
Join 57,000+ members of the natural products community.

You May Also Like