- Trump and China are locked in a trade war, and for some products, the situation is getting out of hand.
- Due to the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US and China, electric vehicles originating from China now encounter a tariff rate of 247.5%.
- Don’t anticipate seeing vehicles from Tesla competitors BYD or Xiaomi on the roads just yet.
It was already
It’s almost impossible to purchase a BYD in the United States.
, but now things are starting to spiral out of control.
Following a quick escalation in the trade dispute between the U.S. and China over recent days, importing an electric vehicle from China to the U.S. now comes with a tariff rate of 247.5%. So don’t anticipate seeing any vehicles from Tesla competitors like BYD here soon.
Xiaomi
traveling on the road anytime soon.
A representative from the US International Trade Commission verified the overall tariff rate to Business Insider on Thursday.
That includes the
145% duties on products from China
revealed by Donald Trump in recent days and the
A 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles imposed by Joe Biden
Last year, along with an additional 2.5% tariff on all electric vehicles imported into the U.S. just to be safe.
This massive figure illustrates how the trade dispute between the globe’s two biggest economic powers has intensified to nearly absurd proportions.
On Friday, China responded to the newest round of US tariffs.
with its own 125% tariff on US goods. China’s tariffs are already hitting Tesla, which has stopped taking orders in the country for the Model X and S, both of which are imported from the US.
This demonstrates how far various US governments have gone to stop this.
wave of affordable
, advanced Chinese electric cars
from reaching American shores.
Anyone in the U.S. looking to purchase and bring in BYD’s most affordable electric vehicle, known as the $7,800 Seagull, will now face an additional charge of $19,300 due to the updated tariff rate.
Even though they have the means for that, owing to a variety of reasons
additional regulations and restrictions
It is improbable that anyone could legally operate such a vehicle on US roads, even if they managed to cover the shipping costs.
Chinese electric vehicles present an existential challenge.
Once skeptical of Chinese automakers, the U.S. automotive sector now views companies like BYD and others as a significant menace to their existence.
Last year, Elon Musk cautioned that
China’s EV firms would “crush” their Western competitors.
free of trade barriers. Meanwhile, Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, was greatly impressed by Xiaomi’s SU7 electric sedan.
traveled from Shanghai to Chicago by air
.
The 250% trade barrier shields Tesla, Ford, and other car manufacturers from competing against BYD and Xiaomi within the U.S., yet this offers minimal protection for them outside of the country.
Not content with
overwhelming Western automakers domestically
China’s electric vehicle manufacturers are currently experiencing rapid growth as they expand into emerging markets such as Brazil and Southeast Asia.
They are constructing factories and venturing into new European markets as well. It’s reported that Europe might eliminate its tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles following its involvement in Trump’s trade conflict.
U.S. citizens, who in polls have repeatedly indicated
lack of affordability and limited choices as significant obstacles
When considering the purchase of an electric vehicle, people are beginning to pay attention.
YouTuber iShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., recently introduced his 38.6 million subscribers to some of BYD’s most striking vehicles when he visited China.
During a live stream that garnered approximately 8 million views on YouTube, the streamer took control of the driving.
BYD’s Yangwang U8 SUV
, capable of staying afloat on water for as long as 30 minutes, and
The U9, an electric supercar priced at $233,000 featuring remotely controlled suspension.
that allows it to “dance” and jump over obstacles.
When he tried to purchase the U9 to bring back to the US, the influencer was informed that it couldn’t be done.
For numerous U.S. drivers eager to witness the Seagull or SU7 perform, steep duties make YouTube their sole choice. Alternatively, they could simply head over the border into Mexico, where
Electric vehicles from China are quickly turning into a familiar sight.
on local roads.
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