Administration set to raise tariffs on 12 key sectors including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and batteries
Casey urged President repeatedly to keep domestic market protections in place
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has finalized an increase on Section 301 tariffs to combat China’s unfair, anticompetitive practices. Casey repeatedly pushed for these increases as the Biden Administration reviewed these tariffs, warning that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to cheat on trade and any reduction in tariffs would undermine American workers, jobs, and manufacturers in Pennsylvania and nationwide.
“When we give American workers the opportunity to get ahead, we all succeed,” said Senator Casey. “These tariff increases are a significant step to crack down on China’s trade cheating and protect American manufacturing and national security. We’re sending a clear signal to the Chinese Communist Party: when you try to bully and cheat your way to global economic dominance, we will fight back, and we will win.”
Senator Casey is a staunch supporter of Buy America standards, as well as legislation to develop American manufacturing capacity. In November, he?sent?a letter to President Biden sharing his serious concerns about potential reductions of Section 232 and 301 tariffs previously imposed on China on national security grounds.?That month, he also?voted against a resolution?to effectively remove Buy American standards for electric vehicle (EV) chargers and force the United States to continue relying on China for products critical to the next generation of clean vehicle infrastructure.
He fought to pass the?Build America, Buy America Act?as a part of the?Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which?requires that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in infrastructure projects are produced in the United States. Casey also fought to pass the?Inflation Reduction Act, which included tax credits for individuals and companies?manufacturing or deploying clean energy technologies to help lower costs and secure our energy independence, as well as?his provision?to provide a “domestic content” bonus credit for companies that use American steel, iron, and manufactured goods.
In April 2024, Casey and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) successfully pushed the Biden Administration to investigate unfair trade practices by the CCP that undercut American shipbuilding, threaten our national security, and hurt American workers. Casey called on President Biden to maintain Section 301 tariffs, a call the Administration heeded.
This week, Senator Casey introduced comprehensive legislation to strengthen American competitiveness in the global economy, crack down on trade cheating, and protect against economic and cybersecurity threats from China. The Combat Chinese Economic Aggression Act will strengthen U.S. manufacturing and technology by pushing back against China and other countries of concern that seek to steal trade secrets and exert influence over American defense, manufacturing, infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy industries.
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