Golden Proposes Tariff Hikes on Chinese Cars Built in Mexico, Chinese Green Tech

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, introduced bills that would hike tariffs on green tech. One would add 25% tariffs to most favored nation tariffs for all battery components, solar energy components and wind energy components from China, with a hike of 5% a year until the rates reached 50%. The other, called Protecting American Autoworkers from China Act, would apply a 125% tax on Chinese autos -- not just electric vehicles -- over the MFN rate. That bill would apply to all cars built by Chinese-owned companies, even if they had a European or North American country of origin, "so that Chinese manufacturers cannot use other nations, such as Mexico, as a backdoor to avoid the tariffs."

Golden said May 10 these were companion bills to proposals by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., (see 2402280061 and 2403060023); however, at the time, Hawley was suggesting a 100% punitive tariff for cars.

Reports have said President Joe Biden will announce increases in Section 301 tariffs, currently at 25% for these sorts of goods, to 100% (see 2405100018). That announcement is expected May 14.