Administration to raise tariffs on 12 key sectors including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and batteries
PA Senior Senator urged President repeatedly to keep domestic market protections in place
Casey: “When we hold trade cheats accountable, we put American workers in the best position to outcompete anyone in the world”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) announcement that the U.S. will maintain and increase Section 301 tariffs to combat China’s unfair, anticompetitive practices. As the Biden Administration reviewed these tariffs, Casey repeatedly warned 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 hold trade cheats accountable, we put American workers in the best position to outcompete anyone in the world,” said Senator Casey. “I have urged presidents of both parties to maintain and increase Section 301 tariffs to level the playing field for Pennsylvania workers and protect our jobs and our national security.”
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. Most recently, Casey called on President Biden to maintain Section 301 tariffs, a call the Administration heeded.
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