The rules, if confirmed, would mark the latest escalation of a simmering trade row between the US and China.
In May, Washington unveiled steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports like electric vehicles and semiconductors.
The tariff hikes hit US$18 billion worth of Chinese imports, targeting strategic sectors like EVs, batteries, critical minerals and medical products, the White House said.
The tariff rate on EVs is set to quadruple to 100 per cent this year while the tariff for semiconductors will surge from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by next year.
Those plans were finalised this month, ahead of November’s presidential election, where both Democrats and Republicans are seeking to show a tough stance on China as competition between both countries intensifies.
The tariff hikes on the US$18 billion worth of goods were taken after a review of levies imposed under then-president Donald Trump, which impacted about US$300 billion in goods from China.
Apart from tariff increases including those on solar cells, the US Trade Representative’s office confirmed that a 50 per cent duty on semiconductors – a sharp rise from before – would start in 2025.
US President Joe Biden has accused Beijing of “cheating” rather than competing on trade.
Source: CNA
