The United States is intensifying its approach to imposing tariffs on Chinese products, a trend that continues regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans hold the White House.
In 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump initiated a trade war with China, basing his actions on a Section 301 investigation led by then-U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. This resulted in tariffs on thousands of Chinese goods worth approximately $380 billion, before an agreement was reached with Beijing.
Fast forward to May this year, U.S. President Joe Biden directed Trade Representative Katherine Tai to raise tariffs across what are deemed strategic sectors. These include steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, critical minerals, solar cells, ship-to-shore cranes, and medical products. Tai announced increased tariffs covering products in 14 sectors, with an estimated annual trade value of around $18 billion, under the pretext of finalizing Lighthizer's Section 301 review.
A few months later, Tai finalized tariffs affecting $15 billion worth of Chinese exports, which commenced on September 27, 2024.
This move reflects a zero-sum mentality of decoupling from China, suggesting that the list of \"strategic industries\"—which Biden aims to protect from foreign competition—may continue to grow. These industries are areas where America seeks to maintain a stake against potential competition from China.
For instance, this round of tariffs includes electric vehicles and related batteries. Data from China's General Administration of Customs indicates that China exported just over 10,000 EVs to the U.S. in 2023, comprising less than 1 percent of its total export volume. Nonetheless, the Biden administration remains steadfast in its efforts against them.
Biden's protectionist stance also extends beyond high-tech products, as evidenced by the latest tariffs. Initially, it was thought that only Trump focused significantly on steel and aluminum as the starting point for trade disputes not just with China but globally. However, it turns out Biden also targets steel and aluminum, with a primary focus on China.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
