Electric cars, batteries… In the United States, customs duties on many Chinese products come into force

American President Joe Biden made the announcement last May, the measure is now in place: the increase in customs duties on strategic Chinese products comes into force on Friday September 27. This increase primarily concerns Chinese electric cars, which are now taxed at 100%. Electric vehicle batteries, at 25% and solar panel cells, at 50%. Semiconductors are also affected: but they will only be taxed at 50% from January 1st.

In total, these additional customs duties will be applied to the equivalent of $18 billion in Chinese products. Products that Washington considers “strategic” because they penalize American businesses and workers.

For US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, this is a sign that the Biden administration is committed to fighting unfair trade practices. This is also a sensitive subject less than a month and a half before the American presidential election. The two candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, are arguing about the subject, they did it during their debate, they do it remotely.

Kamala Harris accuses Donald Trump of launching “economic wars” when he was president. Trump responds, rightly, that the Biden administration did not remove these tariffs once they were in place because they represent too much money. The Republican candidate adds that he will increase them further if he is re-elected, by more than 10% on imports from certain countries. Kamala Harris sees this as a consumption tax that will ultimately weigh on the American consumer.