As of February 14, 2020, China will knock 2.5% off the punitive tariffs applied on imports of many polymers from the US. Most of the tariffs have been in effect since 2018.
After the reduction, the following polymers, among others, will still be subject to a heavy tariff of 27.5%: HDPE, LLDPE, EVA, polypropylene and propylene copolymers. China’s imports in 2019 of these polymers from the US were down by 34% to 69%.
After the reduction, the following polymers, among others, will be subject to a tariff of 12.5%: general purpose polystyrene, SAN, ABS, PMMA and polyacetals. China’s imports in 2019 from the US were down by 14% for ABS and by 43% to 63% for PS, SAN, PMMA and polyacetals.
From International Trader Publications’ year end edition of the China Polymer Trade Report, which details China’s trade in polyolfins, styrenic polymers, vinyl polymers and PET, and, year end editions of the PMMA Polymer World Trade Report and the Polyacetals World Trade Report.