The government increases customs duties on solar panels and batteries

The US administration has decided to significantly increase customs duties on certain products imported from China, including electric vehicles, batteries and photovoltaic cells. While the decision has obvious political significance, its practical consequences are likely to be more limited. The United States is heavily dependent on the Chinese market for its supply of lithium-ion batteries. On the other hand, the US buys very few photovoltaic cells from China (the US's main suppliers are Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea and Morocco) and virtually no electric vehicles. What's more, the tariffs on batteries will not really be implemented until 2026, as the US administration wanted to allow a transition period for American buyers of equipment produced in China.