ALEXANDRIA, Va.—To assist its members who wish to file comments on the impending increase of the China 301 duties on optical products, The Vision Council has created template letters, which can be accessed here. The Vision Council advises that the template can be modified based on each company’s perspective and can incorporate a corporate letterhead (PDF formats will be accepted). Alternatively, members can fashion and file their own comments. All comments must be submitted here and be filed by June 17, 2019. Because these comments will be public, The Vision Council advises companies not to include confidential information.

It is critical that the optical industry voice any concerns to the United States Trade Representative Office regarding these tariffs, as the fourth list of proposed tariffs will impact all Chinese-origin optical products by imposing a 25 percent tariff. For more information on the China 301 duties, click here.

Members who submit comments are asked to send a copy to Greg Chavez, The Vision Council’s executive vice president of operations and membership, at gchavez@thevisioncouncil.org, for The Vision Council’s lobbyists to reference during their meetings.

All other questions regarding the China 301 duties can be directed to Rick Van Arnam, The Vision Council’s regulatory counsel, at rvanarnam@barnesrichardson.com.

Approximately 200 Vision Council members participated in two informational conference calls on May 28 which were hosted by The Vision Council to discuss the fourth group of China 301 duties and how they will potentially impact the optical industry, as well as The Vision Council's plans. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a fourth list of tariff numbers on May 17. The list now includes core eyewear products including spectacle lenses, ophthalmic frames, sunglasses, reading glasses and other low vision devices made in China.