Tariffs on books manufactured in China continued to be slowly relaxed.
Following an agreement between China and the U.S. to a phase one trade deal in December, the U.S. Trade Representative indefinitely suspended an additional 15% duty on children’s picture, drawing, and coloring books. The duty had been slated to begin on December 15, 2019.
When the agreement was actually signed in January, the U.S.Trade Representative quietly announced that the 15% tariff on most other books under the 4901 heading that began on September 1 would be reduced to 7.5% percent starting February 14, 2020. The rate reduction is not retroactive, however, which means that tariffs already paid at the full 15% rate will not be reimbursable.
