In the United States, the Biden administration moved to impose higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as part of a broader strategy to address trade practices perceived as unfair. The measures were announced as a response to what officials described as China’s inaccurate advantages, with the aim of protecting American jobs and supporting domestic industry. The move follows prior criticism from political opponents who argued that China’s backing for electric vehicles could undermine the U.S. auto sector. Officials emphasized that the administration would prevent any foreign supplier from unduly dominating markets for electric vehicles and related components such as batteries, semiconductors, and essential medical supplies.
Administration briefings indicated that the new tariffs would affect a substantial portion of Chinese imports, with a figure cited to illustrate the scale of the impact on the bilateral trade relationship. Critics from China’s commerce ministry argued that the tariff steps would negatively affect the climate of cooperation between the two nations and condemned the new measures as disruptive to joint efforts on key economic issues.
Earlier actions by the administration included signing measures that increased customs duties on a wide range of Chinese-origin products ahead of upcoming political events. Specific tariff plans included a substantial rise in the rate on semiconductors from 25% to 50% by 2025, with additional duties of 25% applied to certain rare earth minerals in the current year and similar levels on natural graphite and magnets projected for 2026. Other targeted items, such as crane ships, were slated for a 25% tariff in 2024.
There have been reports of incidents related to urban infrastructure and energy access in various cities, including thefts that have involved components associated with electric charging networks. These incidents underscore broader concerns about security and supply chain resilience in a changing energy landscape.