SYNTRON MATERIAL HANDLING

8474900010 SMH 159146-D Exclusion Letter P.docx

Monday, October8, 2018

Ambassador Robert Lighthizer

U.S. trade Representative

Office of the United States Trade Representative

600 17th Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

Re: USTR-2018-0025 - Procedures to Consider Requests for Exclusion of Particular Products from the 

Determination of Action Pursuant to Section 301: 

Vibratory movement of this electromagnetic drive assembly is used in manufacturing to 

actuate dry materials or parts from point A to point B.

Physical dimensions: width: 3 inches; length: 9.5 inches, height: 4 3/8 inches

weight: 28 pounds made from gray cast iron SAEJ431b and is painted.

SYNTRON Vibratory Drive assembly item number: 159146-D,

Syntron description: F-TO-C 115V/60HZ

(HTS# 8474.90.0010)

Dear Ambassador Lighthizer:

 Syntron Material Handling (SMH) provides material handling solutions for conveying, feeding, 

elevating, vibratory flow aids and mining controls of bulk product. As a leader of innovative 

material handling solutions, we offer efficient and cost-effective solutions to improve and enhance 

the technology manufacturing business customers are already using. 

 Industries we serve include food handling, ports and terminals, aggregates, cement, glass mining, 

pulp and paper, power generation and trona-potash-salt. 

 Our products include vibrating conveyors, belt conveyor idlers, screw conveyors, bucket 

elevators, underground mining, heavy duty and light industry feeders.

 

SMH is located in Saltillo, Northeast Mississippi. Saltillo has an estimated population of 5000. 

Our 300,000 square foot facility was built in 1974 and it houses Syntron Material Handling and

our Corporate Office. SMH currently employs 229 full-time team members.

Additionally, there is a Syntron Material Handling Solutions facility in Changshu, China. This 

location was established in 2006 and employs 23 team members.

Mission Statement

Syntron material Handling is a customer focused industry leader with a reputation for providing 

innovative engineering, high-performance products, and superior customer service.

Annual Quantity & Value

2017 Value: [BCI] 2017 Quantity: [BCI]

2016 Value: [BCI] 2016 Quantity: [BCI]

2015 Value: [BCI] 2015 Quantity: [BCI]
SYNTRON MATERIAL HANDLING

8474900010 SMH 159146-D Exclusion Letter P.docx

11. Is the Chinese-origin product of concern sold as a final product or an input used in

 a) For imports sold as final products, please provide:

[BCI] % of your total gross sales in 2017 that the Chinese-origin product accounted for.

 b) For imports of inputs used in the production of final products, 

please provide: 

[BCI] % of the total cost of producing the final product(s) the Chinese-origin input accounts for.

[BCI] % of your total gross sales in 2017 that sales of the final product(s) incorporating the 

input accounted for.

RATIONALE FOR REQUESTED EXCLUSION

This product is a component in production processes for SMH customers. This vibratory 

drive is small, compact encased in dust-tight housings with pre-drilled holes for easy 

attachment to the mass to be vibrated. Drive type and number of drives is determined by 

the width, length and weight of the mass to be vibrated.

While we can sell one piece singly as imported, controls are available to operate a

single-drive unit or multiple drive configurations.

Assembly of this drive unit is labor intensive and is of unique SMH design.

Our competitive edge is our design and ease of integration to customer’s use.

Other vibratory drives are available from our competitors , but we are looking to sell our 

product design and customization. At this time, our source, driven by competitive pricing 

and availability, is in China.

Economic Impact

SMH understands that the purpose of the Section 301 tariffs is to eliminate unfair Chinese 

trade practices relating to the misappropriation of United States intellectual property and 

technology. The imposition of these tariffs is intended to be practicable and effective to 

obtain the elimination of acts, policies, and practices viewed as detrimental. Imposing 

tariffs on these products would negatively affect this company as well as SMH customers. 

Once all phases of the Section 301 duties announced to date are implemented SMH will 

face a substantial increase in cost by way of duties in a 12-month time frame. 

SMH currently employs 229 team members in our Saltillo, MS, location. SMH employees

represent approximately 9% of Saltillo, Mississippi workforce. Additional costs in tariffs 

will lead to reduced competitiveness and a reduction in product demand, ultimately 

resulting in loss of employment and marginal profitability.

Made in China 2025

 Placing tariffs on this vibrator drive would not benefit U.S. industry, nor would it further 

the USTR’s stated goals underlying the Section 301 investigation. According to the 

USTR’s Section 301 Investigation findings, China’s “Made in China 2025” industrial policy 

is centered on promoting ten strategic sectors of high-technology industries. Vibratory

drives are not among those categories.
SYNTRON MATERIAL HANDLING

8474900010 SMH 159146-D Exclusion Letter P.docx

 The Chinese government has not employed any tactics to intervene in or regulate SMH’s 

operations in China. It has not attempted to use discretionary administrative licensing and 

approval processes, foreign equity limitations, or foreign ownership restrictions to require 

or pressure SMH to transfer technology. SMH’s control over its intellectual property and 

technology in China has not been undermined, and the Chinese government has not 

directed or facilitated investment in or acquisition of SMH’s assets or intellectual property. 

SMH is similarly unaware of any data breaches or attacks on any SMH facilities in China. 

The Chinese government does not consider SMH’s vibratory drives to be an area of 

strategic concern for its industrial policies. 

 Imposing additional tariffs on such vibrator drives would only harm American interests 

and would not have a material effect on China’s acts, policies and practices used to acquire 

foreign technology or that the USTR has found to be unreasonable or discriminatory.

Other Relevant Information

This product is a component as well as a final product to SMH customer. 

Assembly of this drive unit is labor intensive and of unique SMH design. 

Our competitive edge is our design and ease of integration to customer’s application. 

Impact to Company Workforce

Should we have to raise costs of products to recoup this additional tariff expense, which we 

have begun to do, and that could reduce our competitiveness in the market and ultimately 

impact retention of our current workforce of 229 people in Saltillo, MS.

SMH is unaware of any potential issues that would affect the ability of US CBP to 

administer subject exclusion. CBP should be able to easily identify the products based on 

HTSUS code and standard information provided.

As such, we respectfully request exclusion from Section 301 for our product 159146-D 

classified under HTS# 8474.90.0010, that is produced and sourced from China.

PRODUCT PHOTO 

159146-D photo item as received SMH 159146-D schematic SMH