+++ US-Zollpolitik +++: USA verhängen Zölle und Mindestpreise für Polysilizium-Produkte

In a move to protect domestic industries from Chinese competition, US President Donald Trump has imposed 15 percent tariffs on polysilicon products and minimum import prices, according to the Presidential Office. The tariffs, set to take effect on December 4th, include a minimum import price of 21 dollars per kilogram for polysilicon, 100 dollars per kilogram for blocks and wafers, 0.22 dollars per watt for solar cells, and 0.38 dollars per watt for solar modules.

Polysilicon, a highly pure form of silicon, is at the beginning of the supply chain for the chip and solar industries. The new trade barriers are based on a 1962 US law, and before the first vehicles were set to roll over the Gordie-Howe International Bridge, Canada celebrated the billion-dollar border crossing with a celebration, excluding US government representatives.

Trump wrote that Canada had invited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie-Howe Bridge, which was appropriate considering Canada pays significant tariffs to the United States. The tariffs were announced earlier in the week, threatening 50 percent additional tariffs on certain Canadian products, including hockey sticks, wine, and cement.

The tariffs are expected to take effect 30 days after signing, on August 19th. The US is no "tightwad" for Europe, and the US will not tolerate being made to do so, wrote Trump. His administration would immediately initiate an investigation into the practice of "draining" American companies and thus the US taxpayers. Sartorius, a lab and pharmaceutical supplier, compensated customers for illegally paid US tariffs, dampening the reported revenue growth in the first half-year.

The DAX company reported a nominal revenue increase of 2.5 percent to 1.81 billion euros in the first six months, based on the company's announcement on Thursday. Without the compensation payments and adjusted for exchange rate effects, the increase would have been 7.7 percent. The US has retaliated against Canada for discriminatory treatment of US cars, alcohol, and dairy products, citing the "discriminatory treatment" of US automobiles, alcohol, and dairy products by Canada.

The tariffs are based on a 1930 trade act and are set to take effect on August 19th. President Trump threatened Canada with new tariffs over wildfire smoke, calling the situation "absolutely unacceptable." The president planned to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday to discuss the issue. The smoke from wildfires in neighboring Canada has become a "yearly event," and Trump vowed to add the "costs of this pollution" to the tariffs.

However, it is unclear how much the smoke will affect the football match between Argentina and Spain in Northern New Jersey, where the fireworks have already caused problems.