Although the US Trade Representative Office (USTR) made certain exemptions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (including the exemption of tariffs on imported ventilators, oxygen masks, and nebulizers), many US trade organizations, including consumers Technology Association (CTA)), requesting to expand the scope of duty-free products. According to Reuters, the CTA called on the Office of the US Trade Representative to exempt Chinese-made products (including 3D printers, drones, robots, and personal computers) from customs duties.
CTA and other industry groups issued a series of letters to USTR, explaining how the above technologies and other technologies play an important role in mitigating and managing COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the United States. The idea is to remove all obstacles to importing basic medical devices and the necessary auxiliary equipment and products.
As the CTA wrote in the letter to USTR: “These tariffs are not only barriers to entry into necessary products, but also tax businesses and consumers. As many people enter the ‘survival mode’, the harm becomes more and more serious. ”
In the past few months, we have seen the importance of 3D printers in the rapid production of key equipment such as PPE and ventilator parts. Many companies and even individuals are using 3D printing to produce much-needed supplies for local hospitals or medical centers. Other technologies, such as robots, can be used to disinfect surfaces, and drones can be used to provide medical supplies. Personal computers can be used for distance education purposes and for providing remote medical services.
Other industry organizations, including the American Chemistry Council, the Computer Technology Industry Association, and the American Apparel and Footwear Association, also require exemptions from the use of disinfectants, medicinal chemicals, printer inks and toners, and reusable masks.
CTA is an industry association in the United States, representing the US $ 422 billion consumer technology industry and providing 18 million jobs in the United States. The organization advocates the industry and hosts global events, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).