The People’s Republic of China announced May 13 that tariffs on certain U.S. agricultural products would be increased.
More than 300 products, valued at $3 billion in 2017, are affected. This sets the current number of tariff-targeted agricultural products at more than 1,000.
New tariffs increase 25, 20, 10, and 5 percent, and will be implemented as of June 1. A wide variety of products are affected, ranging from live animals and animal products, horticultural products, food ingredients, prepared foods, and wine and spirits. The new tariffs include:
• Fresh or chilled bovine whole or half carcasses, 25 percent increase, totaling 45 percent;
• Frozen bovine whole or half carcasses, 25 percent increase, totaling 50 percent;
• Fresh or chilled bovine meat, 25 percent increase, totaling 37 percent;
• Frozen bovine meat, 25 percent increase, totaling 37 percent;
• Yellow or black soybeans, 25 percent increase, totaling 28 percent;
• Crude soybean oil, 25 percent increase, totaling 34 percent;
• Frozen sweet corn, 10 percent increase, totaling 20 percent;
• Brans, sharps, other residues of maize, 20 percent increase, totaling 25 percent;
• Shelled or unshelled almonds, 25 percent increase, totaling 50 percent;
• Unshelled walnuts, 25 percent increase, totaling 60 percent; and
• Shelled walnuts, 25 percent increase, totaling 60 percent.
