Biden Calls for Tripling of Tariffs on Chinese Steel, Aluminum

President Joe Biden called for tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum to be tripled.

Details: Speaking at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, Biden called for the average tariff rate on Chinese steel and aluminum, which is currently 7.5%, to be tripled in order to combat “unfair Chinese trade practices” that are driving down prices and cutting into the profits of American manufacturers. This announcement follows recent pro-union moves from the Biden Administration, such as Biden’s recent promise to block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company.

Key Quotes: A Fact Sheet released by the White House stated, “Chinese policies and subsidies for their domestic steel and aluminum industries means high-quality U.S. products are undercut by artificially low-priced Chinese alternatives produced with higher emissions … President Biden is calling for USTR to consider enhancing the effectiveness of tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products by tripling them.” Speaking at a campaign event in Pittsburgh, Biden told members of the United Steelworkers Union, “we’re in a stronger position to win the economic competition in the 21st century against China, or anywhere else, because we’re investing in America and American workers again.” Reuters (Center bias) quoted a spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington stating the United States was “making the same mistake again and again.”

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum framed Biden’s call to action as a political maneuver aimed at appealing to union workers, who are typically in favor of tariffs.