TIA Cites Risks of Higher Section 301 Duties on U.S. Competitiveness

Arlington, VA (May 8, 2019) –– The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today issued the following statement after the issue of a Federal Register notice declaring the U.S. government will increase Section 301 duties on Chinese imports from 10 to 25 percent. The duty hike will take effect in two days, starting this Friday.

Cinnamon Rogers, TIA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, issued the following statement:

“Stability and predictability have long been recognized as cornerstones of a pro-business investment environment. For this reason, we are greatly concerned that the U.S. government has announced the imposition of an additional tax on imports to take effect with little advance notice. The 25 percent duty as described will impact products essential to the functioning of our country’s telecommunications networks, ultimately resulting in significant new costs for American consumers.

“While we fully support the efforts of U.S. negotiators to address unfair Chinese trade practices, tariffs on network equipment will hinder the U.S. expansion of high-speed internet and next-generation network technologies such as 5G. In doing so, tariffs will adversely impact our technological competitiveness relative to other countries and hurt our economy and consumers.”

Contact

Ashley Simmons, 703-907-7704, asimmons@tiaonline.org

About TIA

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents more than 300 companies that enable high-speed communications networks and accelerate next-generation ICT innovation. Through leadership in U.S. and international advocacy, technology programs and standards development and business performance solutions, TIA and its members are accelerating global connectivity across every industry and market.