US to quadruple tariffs on China’s EVs to 100% on Sept. 27

The United States said Friday it will raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and some other goods on Sept. 27 as part of its efforts to keep American workers and relevant industries competitive.

The punitive duty on EVs from the Asian giant will be quadrupled to 100 percent from the current 25 percent and that on lithium-ion batteries for EVs will be 25 percent, up from 7.5 percent, both effective on the date, according to the Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

President Joe Biden’s administration already revealed the new tariff rates in May and initially planned to introduce them Aug. 1, but postponed the move as the office said it took longer to review comments on the policy from the public.

Washington unveiled the new date as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and her Republican rival and former President Donald Trump have been running neck-and-neck ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Biden is no longer seeking reelection.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Friday that the anti-China trade policy underscores “the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to standing up for American workers and businesses in the face of unfair trade practices.”

The tariff rate on steel and aluminum products will go up to 25 percent from the current zero to 7.5 percent on Sept. 27, while the duty on semiconductors will double to 50 percent on Jan. 1, 2025.

The U.S. government decided, however, to refrain from slapping a 25 percent punitive duty on Chinese ship-to-shore cranes until May 14, 2026, if relevant contracts had been signed by May 14 of this year.

The Biden administration said in May it would impose the new tariff this year, but the American Association of Port Authorities later urged the government to reconsider, saying no U.S. company can manufacture the cranes and the implementation of the duty would incur massive additional costs.