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Bloomberg
Fitbit Inc, soon to be acquired by Google, says it’s shifting manufacturing operations out of China for its health trackers and smart watches to avoid US tariffs. But until then, it wants relief from President Donald Trump’s duties.
The smart watch maker has filed a request for an exclusion on the 15% duty that took effect from September 1 on its wrist-wearable communications devices, saying that while
its goal is to eliminate the use of Chinese manufacturers, it “respectfully requests†a tariff waiver for its smart watches and fitness trackers now imported from China.
The duties will allow Chinese firms such as Huawei Technologies Co to gain US market share while helping China’s data-collection and surveillance aims, the firm said.
“Tariffs that place US brands like Fitbit at a disadvantage relative to Chinese competitors in the US market will only further these objectives,†the company said in its exclusion request.