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US to boost tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100%; related components to 25%

President Biden is directing US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai to take action to add or increase tariffs for certain products from China, including EVs and EV components. Ambassador Tai will propose the following modifications in EV-related strategic sectors:

Electric vehicles Increase rate to 100% in 2024
Battery parts (non-lithium-ion batteries) Increase rate to 25% in 2024
Lithium-ion electrical vehicle batteries Increase rate to 25% in 2024
Natural graphite Increase rate to 25% in 2026
Other critical minerals Increase rate to 25% in 2024
Permanent magnets Increase rate to 25% in 2026
Semiconductors Increase rate to 50% in 2025
Steel and aluminum products Increase rate to 25% in 2024

Background. In May 2022, USTR commenced a statutory four-year review process by notifying representatives of domestic industries that benefit from the tariff actions of the possible termination of those actions and of the opportunity for the representatives to request continuation. In September 2022, USTR announced that because requests for continuation were received, the tariff actions had not terminated and USTR would conduct a review of the tariff actions. USTR opened a docket on 15 November 2022, for interested persons to submit comments with respect to a number of considerations concerning the review. USTR received nearly 1,500 comments.

As part of the statutory review process, throughout 2023 and early 2024, USTR and the Section 301 Committee (a staff-level body of the USTR-led, interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee) held numerous meetings with agency experts concerning the review and the comments received.

Specifically, the Report concludes:

  • The Section 301 actions have been effective in encouraging the PRC to take steps toward eliminating some of its technology transfer-related acts, policies, and practices and have reduced some of the exposure of US persons and businesses to these technology transfer-related acts, policies, and practices.

  • The PRC has not eliminated many of its technology transfer-related acts, policies, and practices, which continue to impose a burden or restriction on US commerce. Instead of pursuing fundamental reform, the PRC has persisted, and in some cases become aggressive, including through cyber intrusions and cybertheft, in its attempts to acquire and absorb foreign technology, which further burden or restrict US commerce.

  • Economic analyses generally find that tariffs (particularly PRC retaliation) have had small negative effects on US aggregate economic welfare, positive impacts on US production in the 10 sectors most directly affected by the tariffs, and minimal impacts on economy-wide prices and employment.

  • Negative effects on the United States are particularly associated with retaliatory tariffs that the PRC has applied to US exports.

  • Critically, these analyses examine the tariff actions as isolated policy measures without reference to the policy landscape that may be reinforcing or undermining the effects of the tariffs.

  • Economic analyses, including the principal US Government analysis published by the US International Trade Commission, generally find that the Section 301 tariffs have contributed to reducing US imports of goods from the PRC and increasing imports from alternate sources, including US allies and partners, thereby potentially supporting US supply chain diversification and resilience.

Comments

mahonj

That is a pretty big deal - it certainly won't reduce the price of EVs in the USA.
(But I suppose it isn't meant to)

Bernard

It's an election year in the US, so we'll see many more suggested protectionist measures between now and November.
It's anybody's guess if any of these will still be in consideration next January.

SJC

China cannot be allowed to dominate more segments they already did it with solar panels they're doing it with Rare Earth elements used in wind turbines and other devices this sort of dominance driving people out of production and raising prices has got to stop

Bernard

SJC, China is doing well in the EV segment because they invested a lot of money. Putting-up trade barriers won't change that, it just means that US consumers don't benefit.
On the other hand, other countries are finally learning from their mistakes. The next generation of batteries are just as likely to be built in the US, or Canada, or the EU.

Gasbag

A lot of the capital invested in China was from outside either via required joint ventures or direct investment..

Trade barriers will in the short term help encourage domestic investment in manufacturing creating long term benefits for domestic consumers and producers though it may require forgoing short term benefits. The IRA and CHIPs act are bringing manufacturing jobs to the US. That is an incredibly improbable feat that the US general public doesn’t seem to comprehend.

SJC

The Chinese government subsidizes industry you cannot compete with that in America and other Western countries we believe in a market economy where the government regulates but doesn't invest directly Communist China see things differently.

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