Post by M. Hawbaker on Aug 15, 2019 15:55:11 GMT
The Trump administration has decided to give Bibles a free pass amid an escalating tariff war between the U.S. and China.
In May, Christian publishers began to panic as bibles and other religious texts printed in China, together totaling some 65 percent of the 2018 U.S. brochures and leaflet imports, were set to be slapped with tariffs of up to 25 percent.
In May, Christian publishers began to panic as bibles and other religious texts printed in China, together totaling some 65 percent of the 2018 U.S. brochures and leaflet imports, were set to be slapped with tariffs of up to 25 percent.
On Tuesday, however, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) published two lists of items that will be subjected to a 10% hike in tariff charge starting in September and December respectively -- the Bible, USTR said, will be spared from both.
Other items that evaded the tariff charge included child safety seats, cranes used in ports and construction, shipping containers and certain types of fish, according to Reuters. Interestingly, rosaries, which are a staple in Catholic religious practice, remain on the earlier tariff list -- they will fall victim to a 10% tax when the new charges come into effect September 1.
Yay! Happy to hear Bibles will be spared the tariff. 