USA increases tariffs on tungsten products, wafers, and polysilicon, concluding the statutory four-year review

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The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced tariff increases under Section 301 for imports from the People’s Republic of China of certain tungsten products, wafers, and polysilicon.

The rates for solar wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50% and the rates for certain tungsten products will increase to 25%. These tariff increases will take effect on 1 January 2025.

“The tariff increases … will further blunt the harmful policies and practices by the People’s Republic of China. These actions will complement the domestic investments made under the Biden-Harris Administration to promote a clean energy economy, while increasing the resilience of critical supply chains,” Ambassador Katherine Tai said.

The tariff increases … had been proposed as part of the statutory review of the tariff actions in the Section 301 investigation of the People’s Republic of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation.

Ambassador Tai modified the Section 301 tariff actions by targeting strategic sectors for tariff increases, improving the effectiveness of the tariff actions in achieving the objectives of the investigation, while promoting American jobs and investments.

For example, Ambassador Tai increased tariffs (with various effective dates) on electric vehicles, syringes and needles, and medical gloves (100%); semiconductors, solar cells, and facemasks (50%); and steel and aluminum products, certain critical minerals, and others (25%).