Speaking at the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) in Shanghai on September 3, Chen Zhanguang, Vice Chairman of the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), said that his organisation was engaged with his U.S. counterparts to mitigate the impact of trade tariffs between the two large economic countries.

Speaking at a press conference during the ACLE in Shanghai, Chen said that the CLIA was actively engaged with counterparts in the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) to reduce the impact of tariffs that would hit both countries economically and logistically. He said that the U.S. currently accounts for 18.3% of all total Chinese exports, including finished leather products, and thus would be impacted by punitive tariffs. Conversely, around 25% of all U.S. hides are exported to China either as wet salted or wet-blue materials. This may have a major unintended impact on the hide as well as beef industries in the U.S. If reciprocal tariffs were introduced after the current December deadline, then further price hikes would occur.

“We are in frequent contact with our U.S. counterparts and where possible, we are trying to seek trade exemptions from our respective governments. We hope to continue face-to-face discussions with the LHCA at the ACLE this week”, he told ILM.