On Wednesday, the United States announced a new three-month extension of the exemption from punitive duties on a number of Chinese products that are considered useful in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, AFP reported.

The announcement extends until February 28 the current exemptions, which were supposed to expire on November 30.

This is a list of 81 products that will be subject to this exemption as of the end of December 2020, according to a statement from the Office of the White House Trade Ambassador.

Thus, the products in question are unlikely to be affected by trade restrictions and tariffs imposed by the US administration, especially with regard to the transfer of US technology or intellectual property.

“Given the ongoing efforts to combat Covid, the trade ambassador has decided that a three-month extension is necessary,” the statement said.

In 2018, Donald Trump’s administration, condemning Beijing’s “unfair” trade practices that have led to a massive trade deficit, imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese goods equivalent to $350 billion in annual US imports.

Expired exceptions were granted.

A year ago, President Biden’s administration launched a process of “targeted” exemptions for Chinese goods subject to punitive tariffs. Then he emphasized that they will be provided on a case-by-case basis if it is not possible to replace Chinese products.

The goal is to help small and medium-sized businesses in the US that cannot find alternative sources of supply.

The administration led by Joe Biden already made a similar decision in March on a list of 352 other products that are exempt from additional duties until December 31.