ASSOCIATION NEWS
Farah Ahmed
Returns to USTR
to Testify on
China 301 Tariffs
The association continues to
engage with solutions to avoid
unintended consequences of
fragrance-related tariffs
Ahmed during her June 24 testimony before USTR on China 301 tariffs
Fragrance Creators Association
is continuing to advocate for the
removal of select fragrance-related
items subject to new China 301
tariffs, with President & CEO
Farah K. Ahmed returning on
June 24, 2019, to testify before the
United States Trade Representative
(USTR). While supporting
the Administration’s goal of
promoting U.S. manufacturing,
Fragrance Creators asserts that
certain fragrance-related tariffs
will not only cause severe adverse
effects for American manufacturers
and consumers—who are
already struggling under current
tariffs—but also fail to deliver any
meaningful impact on China’s acts,
policies, and practices related to
technology transfer, intellectual
property, and innovation.
“Hundreds of thousands of
American jobs depend on scented
products,” said Ahmed. “Any
added increase in costs will be
devastating to our members while
having no impact in supporting
the Administration’s goals. This is
about American jobs and increased
costs to Americans—especially
those struggling to make ends
meet—who rely on common
household cleaning, personal care,
and wellness products every day.”
Ahmed previously testified
before USTR on May 15, 2019,
urging the Administration not to
apply tariff or trade restrictions
on essential oils, concentrates
of essential oils, and resinoids
of fruits and plants classified in
Heading 3301 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule from the EU. In
her June 24 testimony, Ahmed
explained the consequences of
tariffs on essential oils under
chapter 33; odiferous and aromatic
compounds under chapter 29;
and other organic and inorganic
chemical compounds and
hydrocarbons under chapters 15,
28, and 29. Fragrance Creators
has significantly expanded its
advocacy program to address
the onslaught of trade issues its
members face. In September
2018, after submitting public
comments, Fragrance Creators
announced it had been successful
in protecting dozens of fragrance-
related tariffs from the final List
3 of the Trump Administration’s
China 301. However, a number
of the lines that were removed in
List 3 have resurfaced on proposed
List 4.
The association recognizes the
Administration’s efforts to promote
fair trade practices and remains
committed to proactively engaging
with USTR to demonstrate which
fragrance-related tariffs undercut
its stated goals by putting U.S.
manufacturers at a competitive
disadvantage amongst global
manufacturers.
Issue 2, 2019 | FRAGRANCENOTES.ORG | 19