The Vision Council (TVC) is advising members to monitor a new round of proposed tariffs announced by the US Trade Representative (USTR), which could have implications for the optical industry's global supply chain.
The update follows the US Supreme Court's February decision limiting presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). As a result, Section 122 duties have remained in effect but are scheduled to expire on July 24. In the meantime, the USTR has proposed additional tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing concerns related to forced labor enforcement in more than 60 countries and regions.
Unlike the Section 301 duties first implemented in 2018, which were aimed at addressing unfair trade practices, the newly proposed tariffs focus on countries that the USTR has determined either lack effective prohibitions on imports produced with forced labor or have failed to adequately enforce those restrictions.
Under the proposal, the USTR would impose a 10% additional tariff on imports from 14 countries and regions, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and Malaysia. A second tier would apply a 12.5% tariff to imports from 46 countries, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.
For the optical industry, which relies on a global network of suppliers for frames, lenses, components, and finished products, the proposed duties could introduce additional costs throughout the supply chain, TVC said.
Separately, the USTR announced findings from its Section 301 investigation into Brazil's trade practices and has proposed an additional 25% tariff on a broad range of Brazilian goods. That tariff is expected to take effect after July 15.
According to the USTR, products already subject to Section 232 duties would not face the additional Section 301 tariffs under the current proposal. Certain product categories have also been excluded from the scope of the proposed action.
No implementation date has been announced. The USTR has opened a public hearing and written comment period before making a final determination.
TVC noted that several other trade investigations remain active and could affect the optical industry in the coming months.
Among them are ongoing Section 301 investigations examining manufacturing overcapacity in countries including China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. The organization said it will continue to provide guidance as those investigations progress.
In addition, the Section 232 investigation into medical devices remains pending. Because some optical products may fall within the scope of that review, industry stakeholders are awaiting further details from federal officials.
“The tariff landscape continues to shift, and we know our members need clear, timely guidance to make informed decisions," said Omar Elkhatib, TVC’s director of government relations. "As these new Section 301 proposals add another layer of uncertainty, we are closely monitoring these developments and will continue to provide the tools, resources, and expertise our members need to navigate what comes next."
To help members understand the potential impact of the proposed changes, TVC is planning a webinar to review the proposed Section 301 tariffs, discuss considerations ahead of the public comment deadline, and address questions related to the IEEPA refund portal.
Registration information will be shared through member communications.
TVC provides members with ongoing updates on tariff developments, a tariff dashboard modeling tool, and country-specific duty guidance and archived webinar recordings. The organization said it will continue to provide information and support to help members navigate changes in trade policy.