The Biden administration will raise import tariffs on Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon, and certain tungsten products, effective January 1, 2025, Bloomberg reports.
The move, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), concludes a four-year review of existing tariffs and will see duties increase to 50%.
The USTR cited unfair trade practices by China as the justification for the tariff increase. The statement alleges that China’s policies have led to overcapacity in the global solar industry, harming producers in other countries. The US has maintained import levies on Chinese solar exports since 2012.
However, the impact on Chinese manufacturers is expected to be minimal. A report by researchers at Australia’s Griffith University indicates that the US accounted for only 0.3% of China’s direct solar component exports in the previous year.
“The tariff increases announced today will further blunt the harmful policies and practices by the People’s Republic of China,” USTR Katherine Tai said in a statement. “These actions will complement the domestic investments made under the Biden-Harris Administration to promote a clean energy economy, while increasing the resilience of critical supply chains.”
The administration’s decision highlights the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, particularly concerning clean energy technologies.
