Biden to implement tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and key industries | Global News

US President Joe Biden is set to announce new China tariffs targeting strategic sectors, including electric vehicles, according to sources familiar with the matter. The announcement, expected as soon as next week, will maintain existing levies and could also include semiconductors and solar equipment.

Details on the specific tariffs are still unclear, but the administration is focusing on areas of interest within strategic competitive and national security sectors. The US Trade Representative’s office made recommendations to the White House weeks ago, but the final announcement was delayed as the package was debated internally.

Biden, seeking re-election in November, aims to differentiate his approach from that of former President Donald Trump, who favored across-the-board tariffs. The White House and the US Trade Representative’s office declined to comment on the upcoming announcement.

The potential tariffs could escalate tensions between the US and China, with the latter likely to retaliate. Biden has emphasized that he does not want a trade war with China but acknowledges the competitive nature of the relationship.

Both Biden and Trump have departed from the traditional free-trade consensus in Washington, with Biden launching a review of Trump-era trade policies. Last month, Biden called for higher tariffs on Chinese metal products and initiated an investigation into Chinese trade practices in various sectors.

China has criticized the tariff measures as counterproductive and harmful to the global economy. The upcoming announcement is expected to have significant implications for US-China relations and global trade dynamics.