BANGKOK (AP) To safeguard American renewable energy companies, the Biden administration intends to increase tariffs on Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon, and certain tungsten items.
Following a review of Chinese trade practices, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office announced that charges on some tungsten items will increase to 25% and tariffs on solar wafers and polysilicon made in China would increase to 50%, with effect from January 1.
According to a statement from USTR Katharine Tai, the tariff hikes announced today would further stifle the detrimental policies and practices of the People’s Republic of China. These steps will strengthen the resilience of vital supply chains and support domestic investments made during the Biden-Harris Administration to advance a clean energy economy.
Washington increased barriers to Chinese access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology last week. In response, Beijing banned the export of some essential minerals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the United States. These minerals are needed to create computer chips. Additionally, it tightened regulations on shipments of graphite to the United States.
The majority of those materials are supplied by China, and the US has been trying to find substitute suppliers in Africa and other regions of the world.
Another strategically important metal that China produces most of is tungsten. It is not produced in the United States. Among other industrial uses, it is utilized in the production of weapons, x-ray tubes, and light bulb filaments.
Analysts suggested that tungsten was another possible area where China would retaliate after Beijing said that it would no longer supply gallium and the other commodities to the United States.
Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, trade tensions have been rising. Among other threats, Trump has pledged to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump’s pledge to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from other countries would be a mistake, according to President Joe Biden.
Although his government claims to have a more targeted strategy, it has maintained the tariffs that Trump imposed during his first term in office, often increasing them even higher.
The May report from the investigation that prompted the USTR to increase solar panel tariffs has prompted tariff increases on a variety of products, including semiconductors, steel and aluminum products, medical gloves and facemasks, electric vehicles, and syringes and needles.
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