Rubio Argues ICE Vehicles from China Should Face 100% Punitive Tariffs

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized President Joe Biden's decision to hike tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles under Section 301. Once the change is implemented, a Polestar or Volvo EV would be taxed at 102.5% rather than 27.5%. Rubio, in a letter sent May 14, said the tariff on cars with internal combustion engines must be equally high, because China exported 3.7 million ICE vehicles last year, compared with 1.2 million EVs.

He said limiting the tariff hike to EVs is a "reckless, half-baked decision that will jeopardize the future of America’s automakers.”

He argued, "Policymakers should be particularly concerned about protecting ICE vehicles because these are the cars that most Americans prefer and drive," and noted that ICE vehicles are more profitable for GM and Ford than EVs are.

He told Biden that Chinese cars manufactured in Mexico must not be allowed to enter tariff-free, either.