House lawmakers concerned about China's new tariffs on U.S.-made autos

House lawmakers expressed concern on Wednesday about China's decision to impose new duties on U.S. auto exports in the latest trade jab between the two nations. 

In a statement late Wednesday, China's Ministry of Commerce said it will levy antidumping and antisubsidy duties on imports of larger-engine, American-made vehicles that will range from 2 percent to upward of 22 percent and last through the next two years. 

“We are extremely concerned by China’s announcement today that it will impose new duties on U.S. auto exports," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), Subcommitte on Trade Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), and Subcommittee on Trade ranking member Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) in a joint statement. 

"China’s actions are unjustifiable, and unfortunately, this appears to be just one more instance of impermissible Chinese retaliation against the United States and other trading partners," they wrote. 

"This action appears to violate China’s WTO commitments, and we urge the administration to exercise all available options to enforce U.S. rights, including, as appropriate, enforcing U.S. rights at the World Trade Organization.”

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office said "we are very disappointed in this action by China today," in an email to The Hill. 

"We will be discussing this latest action with both our stakeholders and Congress to determine the best course going forward," a spokeswoman wrote.

The duties were announced about two weeks about the U.S. International Trade Commission would continue an examination into whether China is dumping solar panels on the U.S. market. 

Levin, along with 58 other lawmakers, sent a letter to President Obama on Dec. 2 urging an investigation into the allegations of possible unfair trade practices by China on clean-energy products, the same day the ITC announced its would continue looking into the issue. 

The new duties take aim at vehicles including the Cadillac SRX made by General Motors, Jeeps from Chrysler Group and the U.S.-made BMW X3. China said those vehicles are being dumped on the Chinese market and causing "substantial damage to China's domestic industry." 

In the past year, the United States has challenged in the World Trade Organization (WTO) two trade remedy actions by China that the USTR says violates multiple trade rules.  

In one case, involving grain-oriented electrical steel products used in the renewable energy sector, USTR expects a decision from a WTO panel in the coming months.  

In the other case, involving chicken broiler products, USTR announced last week that the process is moving forward and will be formally considered on Monday at the next meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body.