Biden doubles tariffs on Chinese solar cells triples EV battery tariffs

The Biden administration announces a targeted set of tariff increases on key Chinese imports to protect US manufacturers from Chinese government-subsidized overproduction. Chinese EVs face a 100% tariff (up from 25%). Solar cells face 50% tariffs (up from 25%). Lithium-ion EV batteries face 25% tariffs by 2026 (up from 7.5%). Steel and aluminum products face 25% tariffs. Medical products face new tariffs. Biden frames the tariffs as protecting American workers from China's "unfair trade practices," particularly massive industrial subsidies, rather than as broad protectionism. The increases are more targeted than Trump's across-the-board tariffs and focused on strategic sectors.