Colorado’s Democratic governor blasts Biden over China tariffs

Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis blasted President Biden's administration over tariffs on goods made in China that were announced on Tuesday.

Polis criticized the new tariffs on solar cell and electric vehicle (EV) imports from Beijing, arguing their implementation will negatively impact consumers in the U.S. and be a “major” blow to clean energy. 

“This is horrible news for American consumers and a major setback for clean energy,” Polis said in a Tuesday post on social media platform X. “Tariffs are a direct, regressive tax on Americans and this tax increase will hit every family.” 

The critique comes as the administration confirmed the enactment of tariffs on Tuesday that is part of a push to cut down U.S. emissions. 

The tariffs will increase from 25 to 100 percent on Chinese EV imports to counteract Beijings’ export efforts, according to officials. The tariffs will also double for solar cell imports, going from 25 to 50 percent, a spike that, according to officials, is designed to counter Chinese prominence in solar production which currently sits at around 70 percent worldwide. 

Solar cell tariffs were implemented in 2018, during then-President Trump’s tenure. Biden extended them in 2022. 

EV tariffs come just a few months after Biden ordered a probe into Chinese-made vehicles that have internet connectivity. The investigation, announced in February, encompasses EVs as a part of the probe. 

The administration has faced opposition from some Democrats regarding EVs. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), one of the most endangered Democrats running for reelection, has called for a ban on “Chinese EVs from the US. Period.”