STORY: U.S. tariff hikes on China's clean energy goods draws backlash
SHOOTING TIME: File
DATELINE: May 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:20
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the White House
2. various of China's EV industry
3. photo of U.S. President Joe Biden during an event in Washington, D.C. on May 14
4. various of screenshots of media reports

STORYLINE:

The United States announced on Tuesday new tariffs on an array of clean energy products from China, including electric vehicles (EVs), with EV tariffs jumping from 25 percent to 100 percent.

Shortly after the announcement, China's commerce ministry said Tuesday that China firmly opposes and lodges solemn representations over U.S. further increase of additional tariffs on some Chinese goods, and will take resolute measures to safeguard its own rights and interests.

The newly announced tariff hike is mostly a symbolic gesture as the Biden administration is trying to look tough on China amid the increasingly fierce presidential election battle.

Some experts say the new tariffs could raise prices on certain specific items, though a broad inflationary impact is unlikely in the short term.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis described the news as "horrible" and said the tax increase "will hit every family" on social media platform X.

Robin Mills, a leading expert on energy strategy, has warned that the tariff hike could severely hinder the United States' decarbonization efforts.

Observers and insiders said that barring low-priced, high-quality Chinese EVs from entering U.S. market runs counter to U.S. politicians' aim of protecting the U.S. auto industry, but rather harms industry growth and green transition.

"Cosy within a market protected by distance and tariffs, and fearful of the wrenching shifts required by both electrification and Chinese competition, many (U.S. automaker) executives would like to believe the whole energy transition thing was just a bad dream," said Bloomberg columnist David Fickling in an opinion piece published Saturday.

Electrek, an American news website dedicated to electric vehicles and clean energy, pointed out that the way to win the EV race is not by tariffs on China, but by getting serious on EVs.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)