President Joe Biden’s recent announcement of imposing hefty tariffs on various Chinese goods stands as a testament to his hypocrisy on this issue. This move, while aimed at protecting American industries, contradicts his earlier criticism of Trump’s tariff policies.

During the 2020 campaign Biden was vocal in his criticism of former President Trump’s tariff policies on China. He lambasted Trump, pointing out that American consumers, not China, were footing the bill for these tariffs. 

However, President Biden’s recent decision to impose tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum, semi-conductors, solar panels, and electric vehicles are nothing other than a political ploy before an election. This move not only contradicts his earlier stance but also perpetuates the very policies he once condemned.

In 2018, Trump imposed tariffs of up to 25% on various foreign-made goods, including washing machines, solar panels, steel, aluminum, and numerous Chinese products. These tariffs, aimed at protecting American industries, were met with criticism from Biden, who argued that American consumers bore the brunt of these tariffs. 

What makes Biden’s reversal even more egregious is the fact that he made promises during his campaign to reverse Trump’s tariffs. Instead of fulfilling these promises, Biden has chosen to maintain Trump’s tariffs and increase them. We can debate the merits of Trump tariff policies until we are blue in the face. Trump genuinely believed in tariffs, he campaigned aggressively on them in 2016- something that was very much different than traditional Republican orthodoxy. 

It’s clear that Biden’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese goods is driven not by a genuine concern for American consumers and businesses but by political expediency. By caving in to pressure from his union base, Biden has exposed himself to be controlled not by principles of fair trade but by special interest he needs in an election year.