White House levy to protect US makers from cheap imports likely to inflame trade tensions

White House levy to protect US makers from cheap imports likely to inflame trade tensions

The US president, Joe Biden, has announced a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles as part of a package of measures designed to protect US manufacturers from cheap imports.

In a move that is likely to inflame trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, the White House said it was imposing more stringent curbs on Chinese goods worth $18bn.

Sources said the move followed a four-year review and was a preventive measure designed to stop cheap subsidised Chinese goods flooding the US market and stifling the growth of the American green technology sector.

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Despite the risks of retaliation from Beijing, Biden said the increased levies were a proportionate response to China’s overcapacity in the EV sector. Sources said China was producing 30m EVs a year but could sell only 22-23m domestically.

  • @fritobugger2017
    29•9 months ago

    When China opens up it’s domestic market to international goods then the rest of the world should consider doing the same. Until then, match every barrier to entry.

      • @fritobugger2017
        10•9 months ago

        Why should China be allowed to put in place barriers to entry but not the rest of the world?

        • @SmilingSolaris
          -7•9 months ago

          So china is authoritarian and restricts their people’s market choices and the solution we are going with is just matching that? Pretty sus

          • @fritobugger2017
            11•9 months ago

            Fair trade or no trade. The only way little kids learn to play fair is if the other kids stop playing with them when they cheat.

            • @UnderpantsWeevil
              6•9 months ago

              Fair trade or no trade.

              Did the US ever have fair trade to begin with? It seems like we’ve got a long history of undercutting, outsourcing, and drop shipping.

      • @UnderpantsWeevil
        0•9 months ago

        If China can sell us cheap, efficient electric cars but we can’t sell them expensive gas-guzzling ICE vehicles, it creates an unfair competitive advantage for a Chinese fleet.

        • @WesleeEnglish
          4•9 months ago

          On the other hand, the cheap Chinese cars are the result of a long chain of slavery and exploitation