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Exempt Duty Taxes On Masks and PPE!

1,392 signatures toward our 50,000 Goal

2.78% Complete

Sponsor: The Veterans Site

Life-saving PPE is being taxed; tell the Chairman of the Finance Committee to extend the exemption and cover the tariffs

Life-saving PPE is being taxed; tell the Chairman of the Finance Committee to extend the exemption and cover the tariffs

It has become much harder for companies to bring face masks and other important medical products into the US, despite the present and growing danger of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The exemptions the US Treasury Department previously extended to importers in March 2020 as part of the $300 Billion Trade Action plan have come to an end. The plan covered the tariffs for products like masks, exam gloves, and patient cleansing wipes 1. Any U.S. Company are now be charged an Import tariff from U.S. domestic customs office.

In July 2020, the government lowered tariff barriers on life-saving PPE face masks by 7%, retroactive to July 1, but the remaining 7.5% tariff should not be shouldered by companies that are trying to save lives and limit the spread of a deadly disease.

As of the beginning of July 2020, there were between 700 and 800 deaths, and more than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases being reported every day 2. Face masks, combined with other preventative measures, provide an effective means of reducing these numbers and preventing needless deaths 3. Masks are necessary for all front line healthcare workers, but the CDC also recommends people wear face masks in public places to prevent contracting the disease from asymptomatic carriers 4.

Given the necessity of this equipment, the U.S. government should be doing all it can to alleviate excess taxes charged on bringing it stateside, and that means extending he exemption for the mask duty until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides 5.

Masks are critical to saving lives. Sign the petition to tell the Chairman of the Finance Committee to further extend the exemptions for the mask duty now!

  1. Jenny Leonard, Bloomberg (6 March 2020), "U.S. Exempts Face Masks, Medical Products From China Tariffs.".
  2. NPR (9 July 2020), "Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State?"
  3. Mayo Clinic Staff, Mayo Clinic (28 May 2020), "COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer?"
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (28 June 2020), "Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19."
  5. Ana Swanson, New York Times (25 March 2020), "White House Weighs Tariff Delay."
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The Petition:

Chairman of the Finance Committee,

With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) The need for personal protective equipment (PPE) has never been greater.

Between 700 and 800 Americans are dying of the disease every day, and more than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases are reported in the same period.

Masks are critical to saving lives during this devastating pandemic. From front line health care workers to citizens quarantining at home, face masks provide an effective means of reducing the spread of COVID-19, preventing needless deaths. Yet, domestic customs offices are now enforcing a tariff on face masks, making it much harder for companies to bring this equipment into the country and use it to save lives.

In July 2020, the government lowered tariff barriers on life-saving PPE face masks by 7%, retroactive to July 1, but the remaining 7.5% tariff should not be shouldered by those trying to limit the spread of a deadly disease.

This country needs PPE now. The Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate must pass a resolution to fully suspend tariffs on PPE until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

I demand you initiate his resolution and prevent countless more deaths.

Sincerely,

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Signatures: