Biden Administration Aims to Triple Tariffs on Dirty Chinese Steel and Aluminum
Washington D.C. – Ahead of a visit to meet with the United Steel Workers (USW) in Pennsylvania today, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced it has called on U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai to triple some tariffs on steel and aluminum products from China. Originally implemented during the Trump Administration to combat China’s unfair trade practices, the current average tariff on certain steel and aluminum products is 7.5% under Section 301. The Biden administration’s announcement instructs the USTR to review the effectiveness of the tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products and given her findings consider increasing the efficacy of the 301 tariffs by tripling them. The world’s leading producer of steel and aluminum, China has frequently been criticized for policies and subsidies for its domestic steel and aluminum industries that artificially deflate prices and undercut foreign competition. Additionally, steel and aluminum made in China are some of the dirtiest in the world with over 90% being made by coal power along with both industries being connected to forced Uyghur Labor.
Responding to the announcement, Mighty Earth Senior Director of Decarbonization, Matt Groch said:
“China’s steel and aluminum industry is built on government subsidies, dirty coal, and forced Uyghur labor. As the world transitions to low-carbon steel and aluminum, it is vital that bad actors like China do not subvert global efforts to decarbonize heavy industry by providing cheap and dirty steel and aluminum that undercut cleaner competitors here in the U.S.”
—
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Carole Mitchell, Senior Director of Communications (based in the UK)
[email protected]
+44 7917 105000
Sydney Jones, Press Secretary (based in Washington D.C.)
[email protected]
+1 703 945 1721
