Electric car maker Tesla is suing the Trump administration to demand an immediate end to the imposition of taxes on the import of certain parts from China. In a complaint filed Monday before the International Commercial Court in New York, and consulted Wednesday, September 23 by Agence France-Presse, Tesla, led by the whimsical American billionaire Elon Musk, says that these customs duties, imposed on a list of products in the context of the commercial standoff between Washington and Beijing, are “Illegal”.
The manufacturer specifically challenges, in this 17-page document, the measures imposed by the US trade representative, Robert Lighthizer. He estimates that the additional 25% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on many spare parts imported by Tesla, such as terminal screens used in its cars, are “Arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of power”. The group in demand “Cancellation” but also claims to be “Repaid with interest” after paying these import duties.
“Unfair” practices
The punitive tariffs imposed by Washington on goods coming from China are in fact paid by importers in the United States, which, according to the objective of the American government, reduces these Chinese imports and, ultimately, the abysmal trade deficit. of the United States with China.
Despite a first trade deal between Washington and Beijing concluded late last year, additional tariffs of 25% remain on the equivalent of $ 250 billion in Chinese goods. With these surcharges, which have been the subject of similar reprisals from China, Washington intends to both reduce its trade deficit and reform the Chinese trade practices it considers “Unfair”, such as technology transfers.
