US hikes tariffs on Chinese EVs, batteries, solar cells, chips, steel and aluminum

The Biden administration is sharply increasing tariffs on imports from China including electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors in an effort to protect US jobs ahead of the election in November.

The White House said the action was “carefully targeted at strategic sectors” which also included aluminium and steel, critical minerals, solar cells, port cranes and medical products. The tariffs would apply to $18bn worth of Chinese products, it said.

The US will quadruple the tariff rate on Chinese EVs to 100 per cent this year and roughly triple the rate on imports of steel and aluminium. The rate on Chinese semiconductors will be doubled from 2025. The tariff on solar cells will also be doubled this year to 50 per cent.