China to take ‘all necessary measures’ after reports of new US tariffs

BEIJING — China vowed Tuesday to take “all necessary measures” following reports the United States was planning to raise tariffs on Chinese clean energy goods such as electric vehicles, batteries, and solar products.

Asked about Tuesday’s expected announcement, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that “China always opposes unilateral tariff hikes in violation of WTO rules and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests”, referring to the World Trade Organization.

A US decision on tariffs would come at the end of a long-awaited review of levies imposed during a trade war between Washington and Beijing.

READ: WTO rules against China retaliatory tariffs on US imports

Former US president Donald Trump’s administration introduced levies on some $300 billion in goods from China.

US officials have since initiated a review, with the US Trade Representative required to look into the impact of the action — first introduced in 2018 — after four years.

In the latest move, levies on EVs are expected to roughly quadruple, according to reports.