Dems Urge Tariffs on Chinese Autos

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich) is urging the Administration to protect the US automotive sector from the China’s expansion of auto exports by hiking tariffs on Chinese vehicles. Cars made in China and sold in the U.S. already face a 27.5 percent tax.  

In February Missouri Republican Josh Hawley introduced a bill in the Senate to impose a total tariff of 125% on all imported Chinese autos.

“The influx of low-cost Chinese vehicles backed by the CCP poses a threat to the US automotive sector,” Rep. Dingell and eight other members wrote in a letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

“It is imperative that action be taken to prevent this from materializing,” the lawmakers wrote. “In recent years, the CCP has made significant investments to support its automotive industry, which has led to an overabundance of Chinese exports. Despite US trade barriers, Chinese automakers are now seeking entry into our market. This looming threat of Chinese imports puts at risk our automotive sector’s long-standing leadership. The aggressive expansion of Chinese manufacturers, buoyed by CCP subsidies, threatens to undermine the competitiveness of our domestic manufacturers and jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of American workers.”

The members called on the Administration to increase tariffs on Chinese automobiles, expedite the review of existing Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods and beef up enforcement to ensure autos and parts produced by Chinese manufacturers are not benefitting from US trade deals.