Some goods, such as shipping containers used by freight companies, were removed when Schneider National Carriers Inc. and other firms testified they are almost exclusively made in China. But most products have remained despite the pleas from companies and trade groups.

The list of $200 billion in targeted items ranges from polymers and raw materials used to manufacture products in the U.S. to finished goods like handbags and bicycles. The chemistry council, whose members include DowDupont Inc., said plastics and chemicals account for 25 percent of the more than 6,000 products targeted, and the value of those imports in 2017 was $16.4 billion.

Supply Chains

Duties for the latest round were initially proposed at 10 percent, but Trump directed USTR to consider raising them to 25 percent in response to Chinese retaliation. The tariffs could go into effect after a comment period ends Sept. 6.

SEMI, which represents semiconductor companies and others in the manufacturing supply chain, is also testifying for the third time. It plans to emphasize the cost and time it would take to change suppliers -- as long as 18 months in some cases, which is a generation in the industry, said Jay Chittooran, a public policy manager for the group.

While there’s concern about how much flexibility the administration will have to add and remove products, it’s critical to try, Chittooran said.

“You don’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket,” he said. “If we don’t at least weigh in, we’re definitely not going to get anything taken off.”

Joseph Cohen, chief executive officer of New Jersey-based Snow Joe LLC, successfully argued in May to have electric and cordless snow blowers removed from the tariffs list that became active July 6, and log splitters were also spared from the duties taking effect Aug. 23 after its input.

Power Washers

But Cohen was unable to have garden tillers removed, and the $200 billion list includes the company’s power washers for consumer use -- its largest category, he said. Cohen said he is already in talks with retailers about increasing prices if the tariffs stand, and has put the launch of four new product lines on hold.