Biden prepares to slap tariffs on Chinese electric cars
The TelegraphJoe Biden is poised to quadruple trade tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as the US ramps up tensions with Beijing. Against that backdrop, Mr Biden is reportedly preparing to raise import tariffs on Chinese EVs from the current rate of 25pc to 100pc, according to the Wall Street Journal. The measure is likely to make purchasing China-made EVs prohibitively expensive while also deterring Chinese brands from importing components such as batteries before assembling cars in the US. In March, Mr Biden launched an investigation into the risks posed by Chinese EVs and ordered the US Department of Commerce to take “action to respond”. A month later, he also called for higher tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium, launched an investigation into the country’s shipbuilding industry and signed a law forcing video-sharing platform TikTok to split from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, or quit the US market.