The NPR Politics Podcast Jobs, Climate, China: Biden Unveils Robust New EV Tariffs
May 14, 2024
President Biden's announcement of new tariffs on electric vehicles and semiconductors aims to counter perceived unfair trade by China. The discussion delves into how these tariffs could limit consumer access to affordable EVs while supporting domestic industries. Political implications abound, especially in an election year, alongside responses from the Trump campaign and China. The podcast also navigates the complexities of aligning climate goals with consumer needs as interest in electric vehicles grows, despite some options being financially out of reach for many.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Targeted Tariffs
- President Biden is imposing new tariffs on Chinese imports, focusing on sectors like semiconductors, solar cells, and electric vehicles (EVs).
- These tariffs aim to bolster domestic industries and preemptively address potential future competition, rather than current market issues.
Supply Chain Focus
- These new tariffs target components within the supply chain, not just finished products like batteries or solar panels.
- This approach focuses on building a robust domestic manufacturing base for these technologies.
Political Implications
- Democrats previously criticized Trump's broad tariffs, but the Biden administration defends these as targeted measures aligned with national security.
- Maintaining existing Trump-era tariffs poses political challenges due to entrenched industry reliance.