Updated FAQs: What Breweries Need to Know About the Current State of Tariffs in the U.S.

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This article was originally posted on September 4, 2018. It was edited on August 29, 2019 to reflect recent updates.

Two different investigations by U.S. agencies have recently led to the imposition of tariffs that may have an effect on breweries. They are known by the section numbers of federal law that they are related to:

  • “Section 232” tariffs are focused solely on steel and aluminum products.
  • “Section 301” tariffs affect a wide range of imported products.

Both categories of U.S. tariffs are generating threats of retaliation from U.S. trading partners and could adversely affect exports.

If you are planning to invest in equipment manufactured abroad or if you are planning to sell beer or other products in other nations, you should become familiar with the basic terms and the dynamics of pending negotiations to understand risks, such as price fluctuations and possible supply chain disruptions. While the U.S. has not been involved in “trade wars” in recent years, disputes involving tariffs and trade sanctions were common during much of our nation’s history. The current friction could last for months or even years.

Section 232 Tariffs

What Are the Section 232 Tariffs?

A Section 232 investigation is conducted under the authority of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the effect of imports on national security (Fact Sheet: Section 232 Investigations, Department of Commerce).

  • In 2017, the current administration started a 232 investigation into aluminum and steel imports.
  • In 2018, the investigation concluded resulting in:
    • 25% tariffs on unmanufactured steel imported from everywhere except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and South Korea
    • 10% tariffs on unmanufactured aluminum from everywhere except Argentina and Australia
    • Both tariffs went into full effect on June 1, 2018.

As of June 2019, the United States has lifted the tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from Canada and Mexico.

How Do the Section 232 Tariffs Impact Breweries?

Aluminum: Even though 98% of aluminum cans used in the United States are produced in the United States, different materials used to make the aluminum cansheet are sourced from outside the U.S. The 10% tariff on aluminum quickly impacted can manufacturers. If a brewery packages using cans, they may have already seen an increase in the costs of cans and lids.

Why does this matter?

  • Aluminum cans represent 28.5% of packaged production for brewers.
  • Brewers that produce 10,000 bbl/year or less (more than 90% of breweries) are the largest growing segment of brewers that packages their beer in cans. Therefore, the smallest packaging brewers would be the ones most directly impacted by price increases caused by the tariffs and the resulting uncertainty in the global aluminum market.
  • Cans are the top packaging method for new breweries (breweries that have been open for less than one year). They would be adversely affected by a spike in aluminum prices triggered by new tariffs.

Steel: U.S. companies that produce kegs or brewery equipment could also feel the impact of the 25% tariffs on steel imports if they source their stainless-steel from other countries. If so, breweries that are growing and breweries in planning who purchase this equipment could see a potential increase in price and wait times.

Note: The Section 232 tariffs only apply to unmanufactured aluminum and steel at this time. As noted in the example above, the tariffs and market instability will likely increase the cost of goods sold for U.S. manufacturers who source aluminum or steel from countries subject to the tariffs. Manufactured items imported from countries subject to the Section 232 tariffs are not affected. This situation could change as trade negotiations continue.

(MORE: Brewers Association Statement on Steel and Aluminum Tariffs)

Section 301 Tariffs (Updated August 2019)

What Are the Section 301 Tariffs?

Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) initiated an investigation to determine whether China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are unreasonable or discriminatory, and burden or restrict U.S. commerce (Fact Sheet: 301 Investigations, United States Trade Representative).

  • In 2017, the USTR initiated a 301 investigation into the government of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation.
  • In 2018, the President directed his Administration to take a range of actions responding to China’s acts, policies, and practices involving the unfair and harmful acquisition of U.S. technology. These actions resulted in:
    • A first round of tariffs of 25% on $34 billion of goods from China that went into effect on July 6, 2018.
    • A second round of proposed tariffs of 25% on $16 billion of goods from China which are currently the subject of agency hearings. They are likely to go into effect in the next few months.
    • A third round of tariffs of 10% on $200 billion of Chinese goods went into effect at the end of 2018. The tariffs were raised from 10% to 25% on May 10, 2019.

How Do the Section 301 Tariffs Impact Breweries?

The section 301 tariffs included three lists of affected goods. Examples of brewing-related goods included in the lists are below:

  • List One: 25% tariffs on $34 billion of goods from China went into effect on July 6, 2018. On September 1, 2019 all items on this list will be subject to a 30% tariff. It includes some items that may impact brewers:
    • Machines for cleaning, sorting or grading seed, grain or dried leguminous vegetables (8437.10.00)
    • Machinery used in the milling industry or for the working of cereals or dried leguminous vegetables, other than farm type machinery (8437.80.00)
    • Centrifuges, other than cream separators or clothes dryers (8421.19.00)
    • Pressure-reducing valves for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like (8481.10.00)
    • Safety or relief valves for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like (8481.40.00)
    • Boards, panels, etc., equipped with apparatus for electric control, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000, motor control centers (8537.10.60)
  • List Two: 25% tariffs on $16 billion of goods from China went into effect on Aug 23, 2018. On September 1, 2019 all items on this list will be subject to a 30% tariff. These tariffs electronic and mechanical appliances.
  • List Three: 10% tariffs on $200 billion of goods from China went into effect on Sep 24, 2018 and then increased from 10% to 25% on May 10, 2019. On September 1, 2019 all items on this list will be subject to a 30% tariff. 5,745 items are on the list currently the below items could potentially impact breweries and their supply chain partners:
    • Kegs:
      • Iron/steel, tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes & siml. cont. for any material (o/than compress./liq.gas), w/cap. of 50+ L but n/o 300 (7310.10.00)
      • Iron/steel, cans for any material (o/compressed/liq. gas), closed by soldering or crimping, w/cap. less than 50 L (7310.21.00)
      • Iron/steel, cans for any material (o/compressed/liq. gas), n/closed by soldering or crimping, w/cap. less than 50 L (7310.29.00)
    • Taps:
      • Check valves of copper for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like (8481.30.10)
      • Taps, cocks, valves & similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, hand operated, of copper, nesoi (8481.80.10)
      • Taps, cocks, valves & similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, hand operated, of iron or steel, nesoi (8481.80.30)
      • Taps, cocks, valves & similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, hand operated, not copper, iron or steel, nesoi (8481.80.50)
      • Taps, cocks, valves & similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, other than hand operated, nesoi (8481.80.90)
    • Glass:
      • Glass carboys, bottles, jars, pots, flasks, & other containers for conveyance/packing of goods (w/wo closures) & preserving jars, nesoi (7010.90.50)
  • List Four: On September 1, 2019, 15% tariffs will go into effect on $300 million of goods imported from China. This includes brewing machinery Classified under the Harmonized Tariff Scheduled as 8438.40.00. This will impact all brewing machinery that arrives in the U.S. after the first of September regardless of when it was ordered.

China has proposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products including beer.

What is the Government Doing?

The Administration:

  • Is continuing to negotiate with foreign leaders. If they can come to agreements on trade, there is the chance that some of these tariffs will not go into effect or could change.
  • Has announced billions in relief for farmers who are hurt by retaliatory tariffs.

Congress:

  • Signed a letter to the Department of Justice asking them to investigate the Midwest Premium (aluminum pricing).
  • Signed a letter to the President asking him to exclude specific aluminum products from the 232 tariffs.
  • Holding hearings about the impact of tariffs on businesses across the country.

What Can I Do?

Share your story about how the tariffs are impacting your business, positively or negatively. If you experience price increases to cans or brewing equipment, let the Brewers Association know what they are and how they are impacting you. To do so, contact Federal Affairs Manager Katie Marisic.

After the 4th list of tariffs is implemented, companies may request exclusions which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you want to request an exclusion for your brewing equipment, you can learn more about the exclusion process by here.

The Brewers Association is monitoring trade talks, educating congress about the impacts on small and independent breweries, and requesting that tariffs on products that impact brewers not be included in the final tariffs lists.

What Else Do I Need To Know?

Tariffs are like living documents; their status can change quickly. Though proposed tariffs might not go into effect immediately, implications from tariffs can have repercussions and disruptions that can last longer than the periods that tariffs are actually in force. The Brewers Association’s information will likely need to be updated often. For example, even though brewing equipment itself is not directly included on any of the Section 232 and Section 301 tariff lists, items used in brewing equipment may be impacted. Continue to check this list for updates on these tariffs.

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