USTR increases Section 301 tariffs for Chinese imports of tungsten products, solar wafers, and polysilicon

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced tariff increases under Section 301 for imports from China of certain tungsten products, solar wafers, and polysilicon.

According to today’s USTR release, the following tariff increases will take effect on January 1, 2025:

• The rates for solar wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50%
• The rates for certain tungsten products will increase to 25%

Read the formal USTR notice

Background

The tariff increases are a result of the statutory review of the tariff actions in the Section 301 investigation of the China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The USTR report found that while China had changed some specific unfair measures, harmful forced technology transfer practices, including cyber theft and industrial espionage, have continued and, in some instances, worsened.

Additional tariff increases include electric vehicles, syringes and needles, and medical gloves (100%); semiconductors, solar cells, and facemasks (50%); and steel and aluminum products, certain critical minerals, and others (25%).