/>iOn September 6, 2018, a coalition of vapor industry trade associations and businesses – specifically the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA), the American E-Liquid Manufacturing Standards Association (AEMSA), the American Vapor Association (AVA), and SV3, LLC (collectively, the “Vapor Coalition”) – submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) arguing against the Trump Administration’s additional proposed tariffs that would apply to certain vapor products imported from China (see Docket No. USTR-2018-0026).
The Vapor Coalition’s comments strenuously oppose the tariffs, and describe in detail the potentially disastrous economic and public health consequences that would result if the tariffs are imposed. The comment also describes how FDA’s current regulatory framework makes it effectively impossible for American companies to now start manufacturing vapor devices domestically – forcing U.S. businesses to rely on Chinese manufactured products.
At issue in this docket is the “Third Tranche” of tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration which apply to a number of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes used to import a variety of vapor products and components, parts and accessories from China:
| HTS Code | Product Description |
| 8543.90.88.50 | Personal electric or electronic vaporizing devices with substances containing nicotine. |
| 8543.90.88.60 | Other personal electric or electronic vaporizing devices. |
| 2403.19.20.20 | Mixture containing tobacco mixed with glycerol or other ingredients |
| 2905.31.00.00 | Ethylene Glycol (without nicotine or flavoring added) |
| 2905.32.00.00 | Propylene Glycol (without nicotine or flavoring added) |
| 3824.99.92.80 | Mixtures of a kind containing nicotine used in personal electric or electronic vaporizing devices |
| 3923.30.00.00 | Carboys, bottles, flasks and similar articles for the conveyance or packing of goods, of plastics. |
| 8504.40.95.80 | USB Charger |
| 4202.92.00.00 | Product with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials |
| 4819.20.00.00 | Folding cartons, boxes and cases of non-corrugated paper or paperboard. |
| 4821.10.00.00 | Printed paper and paperboard labels of all kinds |
| 8506.10.00 | Manganese dioxide primary cells and primary batteries |
| 8506.30.10 | Mercuric oxide primary cells and primary batteries having an external volume not exceeding 300 cubic cm. |
| 8506.80.00 | Primary cells and primary batteries, nesoi. |
| 8507.40.80 | Nickel-iron storage batteries, other than of a kind used as the primary source of power for electric vehicles. |
| 8507.50.00 | Nickel-metal hydride batteries. |
The USTR has already imposed tariffs on vapor products imported under HTS subheading 8543.70.99 including, in particular, 8543.70.99.30, 8543.70.99.40, and 8543.70.99.90 (Final Second Tranche, August 7, 2018).[1] Although not the subject of this docket, the Vapor Coalition noted its opposition to such action and urged the USTR to reconsider and remove these subheadings from its Final Second Tranche.
You can download the Vapor Coalition’s comments to the USTR here.
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[1] See USTR Finalizes Second Tranche of Tariffs on Chinese Products in Response to China’s Unfair Trade Practices, available at: https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2018/august/ustr-finalizes-second-tranche.
