The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has contacted the U.S. Trade Representative requesting the removal of punitive tariffs from a range of products relevant to the herbal products industry. The tariffs, enacted via two listing processes in 2018 and 2019, have had significant impacts on the supply chains for herbal ingredients and product packaging. AHPA had submitted comments on the creation of both lists, and had requested similar tariff relief upon the confirmation of the current Trade Representative.

AHPA’s letter follows and cites a decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade issued earlier this month requiring the Trade Representative to reevaluate thousands of tariffs levied against goods imported from China, including those of concern to AHPA. The court order states, in regard to one of the tariff lists in question, that the Trade Representative “fails to apprise the court of the rationale for the product selection and how that rationale is responsive” to public comments. AHPA’s letter asks the Trade Representative to review the substance of the earlier comments and remove commodities from the tariff lists that are relevant to companies in the dietary supplement and herbal products industry which manufacture or market their products in the United States.

AHPA’s letter to Ambassador Tai is available here. AHPA’s earlier comments on the 2018 and 2019 tariff rulemakings are also available.