SIA Seeks Integrator Input on Tariff Exclusions

August 9, 2019

PSA has received this communication from our valued friends at SIA. They are looking for advice and input from security systems integrators on filing tariff exclusion requests with our federal government. These exclusion requests would specifically cover security products imported from China. If you would like to respond to this SIA request – please read through the message below and send any responses to:

Jake Parker, SIA senior director of government relations, at jparker@securityindustry.org, by COB Friday Aug. 16.

SIA Seeks Member Input on Tariff Exclusions

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced an  by which U.S. stakeholders may request exclusion of particular goods from the 25% additional tariffs imposed on the estimated $200 billion worth of goods imported from China and classified within any of the tariff subheadings covered by “List 3.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) is considering filing and/or supporting exclusion requests for certain product categories covered in List 3 with the greatest impact on the security industry. The deadline for submitting exclusion requests to the USTR is Monday, Sept. 30.

 subject to these tariffs that impact the security industry. Within these categories, and based on member input so far, we have identified the following categories as the most critical in terms of negative economic impact on the industry and impact on the deployment of security and life safety systems.

HSTUS Subheading and Product Description

  • 8531.10.00, Electric burglar or fire alarms and similar appartus
  • 8525.80.30, Television cameras
  • 8525.80.50, Television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders

These include the two primary categories under which video surveillance cameras are imported and a broad category encompassing the full range of alarm equipment, such as intrusion detection, motion detectors, conventional and addressable smoke detectors and fire alarm pull stations. China is the largest source of imports by dollar value in each of these categories.

SIA is reaching out to manufacturer/integrator members for feedback as soon as possible on the following:

  1. Are the three categories listed above the most critical ones to the U.S. security industry? If not, are there other  we should consider?
  2. Should SIA file and/or support exclusion requests for these categories on behalf of the industry?
  3. Would your company be willing to consider filing an exclusion request for one or more of these categories with assistance and coordination from SIA?

Submissions from multiple companies, coordinated with supporting submissions from SIA, will provide the greatest chance of success. The USTR requests inclusion of specific information (to be kept confidential) about how List 3 tariffs impact company revenue, quarterly projections, operations presence and data on where List 3 products originate. Would your company be willing to coordinate with SIA’s government relations team and/or external consultants to provide this data?

We are considering taking these actions due to feedback from members regarding the negative economic impact of price increases on these security products resulting from the 25% tariffs and the possibility, based on faltering trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, that such additional tariffs will be applied by the U.S. government for a lengthy period of time.

We need your feedback and assistance as soon as possible given the deadline for submissions next month. Please respond on the three questions above to Jake Parker, SIA senior director of government relations, at , by COB Friday Aug. 16.