Biden set to levy 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs this week

Both the US and EU are deeply concerned about heavily subdidized Chinese OEMs.

See full article...

 

[S3D fan]

It sounds like you're basically saying, since we already lost all of our other manufacturers, then fuck it, let's just let this one go too.

That doesn't sound smart.

See, that's where I disagree. Those other manufacturing sectors haven't been lost forever, just left. For example, there are still companies manufacturing speakers in the US, and Motorola was making phones in the US not too long ago (2014). So, such an industrial base can certainly exist.

Tariffs for all sectors (and not just cars) can bring them back. Arguing that companies would keep making stuff abroad when it would cost less to make them domestically (after import tariffs for stuff made abroad are calculated) is basically arguing those companies aren't that ruthlessly profit-focused.

 

[Jordan83]

To be fair, despite the state level political and financial backing ... the technical advances that BYD has achieved are respectable e as well (i.e. they aren't all smoke and mirrors). Tesla uses their blade battery in some of their European models and I think Bjorn in Norway reviewed a Tesla with BYD Blade pack highly in terms of charging speed and cold weather performance.

Compare BYD use of government largesse that to say Boeing or UAL cost-plus contracts with NASA and the state of the SLS and you can see how semi-direct, unguided cash infusion can go awry.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't saying anything disparaging about the cars or the company or the tech or anything like that. Nor have I to this point, despite saying I am glad for the tariffs. But that's because I have an admitted vested personal interest in the performance of domestic manufacturing and the domestic automotive sector. It's not because I feel any type of way about BYD the company, or their vehicles, or their tech.

Further, I wouldn't be opposed to BYD opening a car factory or factories in the United States similar to how Toyota, Nissan, etc have done, as I've stated previously. That would contribute to domestic manufacturing and local economies.

Call me a homer or whatever, but yes, I freely and openly admit I am interested in protecting major American industries. I live here, and I live in a state whose GDP is still heavily reliant on manufacturing.

 

[The Wonderful Wizard]

Why would BYD’s CEO lie? There’s no chance they are going to get sanctioned in Thailand. Anyway they are localizing production there and margins will change.

Becuase if they’re making a loss in Thailand they’d probably be making a loss at the same price elsewhere, and that would be evidence in support of the dumping claim. Since this is about international “law”, politics and perception matter far more than facts or evidence (and raw brute power ultimately overrides everything else).

 

[lukem]

How have smartphones drastically improved everyone’s lives?

Reading Ars Technica comment threads anywhere you have connectivity?

Let's get our priorities straight!

 

[Mister Bob Dobalina]

Guess how I can tell you didn't read the article before coming here to post. Is it because China also has a consumer-facing tax credit for new energy vehicles? Which you know all too well about, given your username and history of pro-CCP posting?

So, if you're OK with BYD getting an annual check of $5 billion from the Chinese government, I assume you're also OK if Ford and Tesla and GM each get a $5 billion check from the US government. That would only be fair.

In 2008 the US gave 85 billion dollars to our car companies to bail them out. I'm perfectly fine with this, I'm also fine with protectionism. I just think its so funny how gung ho people are about protectionism when its to protect established unwieldy myopic companies that have spent all their R&D money on stock buybacks instead of making good vehicles. I remember even a decade ago when protectionism was verboten, especially in situations where it made the most sense: to protect a fledgling industry in a developing country.

It just all seems quite cynical how much our government bawks when we're now on the losing side of this equation.

 

[Kyuu]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/21/trade-wars-political-success-economic-failure/

A new report from the U.S. trade representative’s office finds that President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese products reduced Americans’ real incomes and depressed investment but didn’t increase manufacturing employment.

Oh hm, tariffs just result in higher prices and depressed investment but don't actually do anything for employment. Who woulda thunk.

Before anyone tries to bring it up: yes, the linked article is an opinion piece, but the report it links to is not.

 

[NetMage]

Wave the possibility of a slightly cheaper car in front of them and those principles evaporate like tears on a hot plate.

Which will benefit more people overall - cheaper cars or employed autoworkers and supply chain?

 

[TimeWinder]

Which will benefit more people overall - cheaper cars or employed autoworkers and supply chain?

Cheaper cars. US Unemployment is near lifetime-low levels, and there are millions of jobs available.

 

[Eldorito]

lol wrong thread.