The US president, Joe Biden, has announced new tariffs on imports of electric vehicles, solar equipment and batteries from China. The move comes a month after he called for higher tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium products, and said that his administration would investigate Chinese shipbuilding.
Tariffs will increase from 25% to 100% on electric vehicles, from 7.5% to 25% on lithium batteries, and from 25% to 50% on solar cells. Tariff rates on certain steel and aluminium products will also more than triple to 25%, up from 7.5% or less.
With the 2024 US presidential election drawing closer, both Biden and the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, are keen to convince voters they are tough on China. In an interview with Time magazine in April, Trump suggested that tariffs of more than 60% on Chinese goods were part of his plan, should he be elected.
