China’s Communist Party accuses US of ‘hyping up’ overcapacity claims as fresh EV tariffs loom
- China being made a ‘scapegoat’ for decline of various US sectors, Communist Party mouthpiece says, alleging bid to contain Chinese competitive edge
- Opinion piece in People’s Daily comes as multiple US media reports say higher tariffs are imminent on China’s new energy sector
“The intention to hype up China’s overcapacity is to contain China’s industries that have an edge,” an opinion piece in People’s Daily on Sunday said.
It said the United States was plotting to boost its own industries and use China as a “scapegoat” for the decline of various American sectors, adding that “some other countries” were following the US line.
American officials have been vocal about what they see as the impact of excess Chinese manufacturing capacity, especially in EVs, solar panels, batteries and steel.
They claim that much of that capacity has been achieved through ramped-up state subsidies and by limiting foreign access to Chinese markets – and have warned of retaliation if China does not change its approach.
Multiple US media reports published over the weekend suggested that the administration of US President Joe Biden could raise tariffs on clean-energy goods from China, including quadrupling duties on Chinese electric vehicles.