Biden's Gift To Trump: An Easy Route To Begin Imposing Hefty Tariffs On China

On December 23, 2024, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched an investigation of China's acts, policies, and practices related to targeting of the semiconductor industry for dominance. The investigation was launched under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

As basis for the investigation, the USTR stated that the "evidence indicates that China seeks to dominate domestic and global markets in the semiconductor industry and undertakes extensive anticompetitive and non-market means, including setting and pursuing market share targets, to achieve indigenization and self-sufficiency. China's acts, policies, and practices appear to have and to threaten detrimental impacts on the United States and other economies, undermining the competitiveness of American industry and workers, critical U.S. supply chains, and U.S. economic security."