U.S. extends tariff exemption for Chinese medical goods for another six months

The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) announced on May 5 that tariff exemptions on Chinese-made masks, cleaning products and personal protective equipment will be extended for another six months to provide lower-cost goods to protect against the New Guinea virus outbreak.

Bloomberg reports that according to the USTR’s draft announcement, the move affects up to 99 Chinese-made products. Washington last extended the tariff exemption until the end of 2020, and this Time it will be further extended until the end of September.

Former President Donald Trump accused China of plagiarizing intellectual property and forcing U.S. companies to transfer technology in 2018, then invoked Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act to impose tariffs on a range of Chinese products, opening a U.S.-China trade war. When the new crown Epidemic first broke out a year ago, the U.S. waived tariff increases on Chinese medical products, including epidemic prevention supplies such as soap, masks, hospital supplies and laboratory equipment, to combat the epidemic.