New Biden tariffs on China’s EVS, solar, medical supplies due Tuesday

WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. President Joe Biden is set to announce new China tariffs as soon as next week targeting strategic sectors, including a major hike in levies on electric vehicles (EVS), according to three people familiar with the matter.

The full announcement, expected Tuesday, will maintain existing tariffs on many Chinese goods set by former President Donald Trump, according to one of the people.

But it will also add new tariffs to semiconductors and solar equipment, according to one of the people, as well as hiking EV tariffs. Chinese-made medical supplies like syringes and personal protective equipment also face additional tariffs, sources told Reuters.

In revising the so-called “Section 301 tariffs,” the Biden administration has zeroed in on industries that it says are of strategic competitive and national security areas, one of the people said.

The long-awaited tariff update comes after a number of lawmakers have called for massive hikes on Chinese vehicle tariffs. There are relatively few Chinese-made light duty vehicles being imported now.

Tariffs on Chinese EVS will roughly quadruple under the new Biden plan, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters