US HIKES TARIFFS ON IMPORTS OF CHINESE SOLAR WAFERS, POLYSILICON AND TUNGSTEN PRODUCTS

The Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on solar wafers, polysilicon and some tungsten products from China to protect U.S. clean energy businesses.

The notice from the U.S. Trade Representative's office said tariffs on Chinese-made solar wafers and polysilicon will rise to 50% from 25% and duties on certain tungsten products will increase from zero to 25%, 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.

“The tariff increases announced last week will further blunt the harmful policies and practices by the People’s Republic of China,” USTR Katharine 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.”

Reports said U.S. and Chinese officials were meeting this week and next for trade talks ahead of the year’s end.

China’s Commerce Ministry took the approval by the House of Representatives of a defense spending bill that includes $3 billiown in funding for removal from U.S. 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 U.S. 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.