Wood flooring is included in a new list of 10 percent tariffs proposed for Chinese products by the Trump administration.
The proposed tariffs, announced July 10 by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, include solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, plywood, bamboo and cork products.
The U.S. imposed 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports on July 6; China quickly retaliated with 25 percent tariffs of its own on $34 billion worth of U.S. products. It was this response from China that set off the latest list of tariffs, according to Lighthizer.
“Rather than address our legitimate concerns, China has begun to retaliate against U.S. products,” Lighthizer said in a statement. “There is no justification for such action.”
The United States Trade Representative will hold a hearing on the tariff proposal Aug. 20–23 as part of a public comment process that concludes Aug. 30, after which a final decision regarding the tariffs will be made.
The complete list of products, which range from seafood to gloves to shampoo, includes a total of $200 billion worth of Chinese products, according to a report by Politico.