Biden Increases Tariffs on Chinese Imports

President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who campaigned against President Donald J. Trump’s trade policies, has taken a more aggressive stance in the trade war with China since taking office. The Biden administration has intensified the conflict with a different focus compared to the previous administration.

President Biden has decided to maintain the tariffs on Chinese imports that were initially imposed by Mr. Trump. Furthermore, he is now increasing some of these tariffs as part of the ongoing trade war.

New Tariff Rates

On Tuesday, President Biden announced significant tariff increases on various products. Electric vehicle tariffs have been quadrupled to 100 percent, while certain levies on steel and aluminum products have been tripled to 25 percent. Additionally, the tariff rate on semiconductors has been doubled to 50 percent.

Although both administrations have expressed strong criticism of China's economic practices, President Biden's approach to the trade war differs from that of President Trump. While Mr. Trump aimed to bring back outsourced factory jobs, President Biden's focus is on fostering production and employment in specific emerging high-tech industries, particularly in clean energy sectors such as electric vehicles.

The Biden administration's emphasis on cultivating these industries represents a shift from the previous administration's priorities.