ACC urges US to remove tariffs on chems, plastics that fight Covid

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The American Chemistry Council (ACC) urged the US to provide some kind of relief from the tariffs the nation has imposed on chemicals and plastics that are used to fight the coronavirus, arguing that it would help ensure access to these critical materials.

The US imposed many of these tariffs during its trade war with China. Some products received additional tariffs of 25% while others received tariffs of 7.5%, the ACC said.

Other restrictions are the result of the US Most Favored Nations (MFN) programme, the ACC said.

“Minimising barriers to sourcing alternatives now and going forward is critical,” said Ed Brzytwa, director for international trade for the ACC. “Trade is essential to saving lives.”

Brzytwa made his comments before the US International Trade Commission (ITC), which is investigating weak links in the supply chains for materials and equipment used to fight the coronavirus. The ITC expects to provide a report of its findings to congressional committees by 15 December.

The pandemic illustrated the vulnerability of supply chains and the need for all manufacturers to have diverse sources of raw materials, Brzytwa said. Crises cause shocks to demand, to supplies or to both, and no one knows when the next one will strike.

“Diversification and alternatives will matter in keeping supply chains working,” he said.

Tariffs make supply chains less resilient and more vulnerable to disruptions, Brzytwa said. Removing them is one of the most straightforward ways to increase the stability of supply chains and provide US manufactures with access to raw materials needed to make products that limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The ACC said the following products should receive some kind of relief from tariffs. The tables show whether the trade barriers were the result of Most Favored Nation (MFN) provisions or the US/China trade war.

Cleaning, Disinfecting, Sanitising and Biocidal Products

HTS Code	Product	Tariff
22071060	Un-denatured ethyl alcohol	US China List #3
22072000	denatured ethyl alcohol	US China List #4A
29051200	IPA (2-propanol)	US China List #3
2905170000	Dodecan-1-ol (Lauryl alcohol), hexadecan-1-ol (Cetyl alcohol) and octadecan-1-ol (Stearyl alcohol)	MFN
2908991500	N-PHENYL-J-ACID	US China List #3
291219.5000	Acyclic aldehydes without other oxygen function: Other	US China List #3
2913005000	2-Formylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt	US China List #3
2915901010	Lauric acid	MFN
2916110000	Acrylic acid and its salts	US China List #3
2921196190	Amine-function compounds – Other: – Other -Other	US China List #3
29224949	Alanine	US China List #3
2924191150	Amides, other	US China List #3
2926905050	BUTYL CYANOACETATE	US China List #3
3204162000	REACTIVE BLUE 21	US China List #3
3204208000	OB 351	US China List #3
3204208000	Optical brightener SWN	US China List #3
3402115010	Salts of sulfated alcohols	MFN
3402132010	Polyethers	US China List #3/MFN
3402905050	Organic surface-active agents (other than soap); surface active preparations, washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning preparations, whether or not containing soap, other than those of heading 3401: – Other: -Other: -Other	US China List #3
3823192000	Derived from coconut, palm-kernel or palm oil	MFN
3823194000	Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids; acid oils from refining: – Other – Other	MFN
3824999297	Prepared binders for foundry molds or cores; chemical products and preparations of the chemical or allied industries (including those consisting of mixtures of natural products), not elsewhere specified or included: – Other: – Other – Other	MFN

Personal Protective Equipment

HTS Code	Product	Tariff
2909602000	Alcohol peroxides, ether peroxides, ketone peroxides and their halogenated, sulfonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives: other	US China List #3
2913005000	2-Formylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt	US China List #3
2916142050	Unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, cyclic monocarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peroxyacids; their halogenated, sulfonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives: Esters of methacrylic acid: Sorbic acid: Other	MFN
3904695000	Polymers of vinyl chloride or of other halogenated olefins, in primary forms: other	US China List #2
3920100000	Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of plastics, noncellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials: Of polymers of ethylene	MFN
3920610000	BPA based Polycarbonate sheet	US China List #2

Medical Supplies, Equipment, and Devices

HTS Code	Product	Tariff
2907230000	Bisphenol A bis(Diphenyl Phosphate) (BDP)	US China List #3
2909602000	Alcohol peroxides, ether peroxides, ketone peroxides and their halogenated, sulfonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives: other	US China List #3
2915901050	COCOAMINE DISTILLED	US China List #3
2917200000	CALCIUM HHPA	US China List #3
2917200000	HIMIC ANHYDRIDE	US China List #3
2917200000	HHPA	US China List #3

Medical Ingredients

HTS Code	Product	Tariff
29094905	Guaifenesin	US China List #3
29251100	Saccharin and its Salts	US China List #3
2926905050	Other Non-aromatic Nitrile-function Compounds	US China List #3

Packaging and Containers

HTS Code	Product	Tariff
2903290000	ALLYL CHLORIDE	US China List #3
2917200000	HIMIC ANHYDRIDE	US China List #3
2917200000	HHPA	US China List #3
2917200000	CALCIUM HHPA	US China List #3
2918297500	polymer antioxidant (phosphite ester)	US China List #3
2920902000	polymer antioxidant (hindered phenol)	US China List #3
2931909010	dimethylchloro silane	US China List #3
2926905050	BUTYL CYANOACETATE	US China List #3
3204115000	disperse red 60	US China List #3
3204192020	solvent red 179	US China List #3
3204192090	solvent blue 104	US China List #3
3204192520	solvent red 135	US China List #3
3204192540	solvent orange 60	US China List #3
3204192595	solvent red 24	US China List #3
3204192595	solvent yellow 114	US China List #3
3204192090	solvent red 195	US China List #3
3204192090	solvent violet 13	US China List #3
3204176085	pigment orange 64	US China List #3
3204192595	solvent green 3	US China List #3
3204170485	pigment yellow 110	US China List #3
3204192595	solvent red 52	US China List #3
3204170435	pigment red 177	US China List #3
3812396000	polymer antioxidant (2-component mix)	US China List #3
8413.20.0000	Hand Pumps	US China List #3
8424.20.1000	Simple piston pump sprays and powder bellows	US China List #3

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