Tariffs imposed on Chinese crane imports to USA

Ship-to-shore crane in a US port

US President Joe Biden will apply tariffs on US$18 billion of imports from China in a bid to protect American workers and businesses.

The US Government said, “China’s unfair trade practices concerning technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are threatening American businesses and workers. China is also flooding global markets with artificially low-priced exports.” In response and following a review by the United States Trade Representative, President Biden is increasing the tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Crane tariffs

The tariff on imports of Chinese-made ship to shore (STS) container cranes is currently zero. “A 25% tariff rate on ship-to-shore cranes will help protect US manufacturers from China’s unfair trade practices that have led to excessive concentration in the market.”

The Government also said the move will “mitigate risks that could disrupt American supply chains.” It is part of a port security initiative where port crane manufacturing is brought back to the USA. This news follows reports of surveillance technology being incorporated in Chinese-built cranes operating at US ports.

In 2024 tariffs on steel, aluminium, batteries, their components and critical minerals, will be increased to 25 %. The rate on semiconductors, solar cells and medical products increases to 50 %. Hardest hit will be imports of electric vehicles where the existing 25 % rate will rise to 100 %.