US hikes tariffs on imports of Chinese solar wafers

BANGKOK (AP): The Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on solar wafers, polysilicon and some tungsten products from China to protect US clean energy businesses.

The notice from the US Trade Representative's office said tariffs on Chinese-made solar wafers and polysilicon will rise to 50 per cent from 25per cent and duties on certain tungsten products will increase from zero to 25 per cent, effective on Jan. 1, following a review of Chinese trade practices under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.

The decision followed a public comment period after the USTR said in September that it was considering such actions.

Reports Thursday said US and Chinese officials were meeting this week and next for trade talks ahead of the year's end.

China's Commerce Ministry took aim Thursday at the approval by the House of Representatives of a defense spending bill that includes $3 billion in funding for removal from US networks of telecoms equipment provided by Chinese firms, including Huawei and ZTE.

"The United States' claim that Chinese information and communication products pose security risks is completely baseless," ministry spokesperson He Yadong told reporters at a routine briefing. "We hope that the US will respect facts and stop politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade issues. China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," He said without elaborating.

Last week, Washington tightened restrictions on Chinese access to advanced semiconductor technology. Beijing responded by banning exports to the US of certain critical minerals needed to make computer chips, such as gallium, germanium and antimony. It also stepped up its controls on graphite exports to the US.

US imports of Tungsten from China fell to $10.9 million in 2023 from $19.5 million the year before.

In early 2018, the Trump administration imposed 30 per cent tariffs on imports of Chinese solar panels. Beijing filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization charging that the US was unfairly supporting electric vehicle purchases.

It has pushed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles up to 100 per cent from 25 per cent, raised tariffs on Chinese-made lithium batteries to 25 per cent from 7.5 per cent.