usatoday24
The United States took the submachine gun, loaded her tariffs and downloaded her bullets all over the world. Except for exceptions, the Donald Trump government announced on April 2 that it will tax with additional economic measures to anyone who, according to their accounts, has mistreated the United States.
China, one of the most punished countries, has already responded.
The tariffs. A quick review of what has happened. Donald Trump presented on April 2 the largest tariff load for a century, according to experts consulted by BBC. The European Union will pay 20% as of April 9 for putting your products in the United States. United Kingdom, however, will pay 10%. Russia will not pay anything. China will pay 39%. An island inhabited by seals and penguins will pay 10%.
It seems random but it is the result of applying a flat rate of 10% of tariffs to all countries. Then, the commercial balance is taken and if it is negative for the United States, it is divided between the imported, it is multiplied by 100 and, for the executive of the American country you have the figure of the alleged undercover tariffs that each country or region imposes on US products.
Donald Trump has taken that figure and divides it by two. The result is the tariff applied to each country.
A blunt answer. For China, new tariffs are “subjective and unilateral valuations (…) do not conform to international trade standards” and, deep down, are a “typical unilateral intimidation practice.” These are the words, collected by The countrythat the Chinese government has used in a statement to confirm that it will impose a 34% tariff to all goods from the United States.
This 34% adds to 20% that the United States already announced in early March and was answered From China with new tariffs to specific sectors (such as the field), the prohibition of selling products to 15 US companies for security reasons or Restrictions in the sale of rare minerals.
Until now, Chinese companies The tariffs had been jumping In products for less than 800 euros. These, as of April 9, will have to raise their prices by 54% (20% already established and 34% announced on April 2) compared to the cost of just a few months ago. China will apply its tariffs from April 10, which looks like an open door to negotiation.
How are you going to Tesla in China? Elon Musk’s company is one of the most settled American companies in China. Tesla sold 1.79 million electric cars worldwide. Of them, 657,000 vehicles were sold in the Asian country. That is, one in three cars manufactured by Tesla was bought in China, according to data from Reuters. It was a sales record in a year where He could not sell more cars than the previous exercise worldwide, a rarity.
Of those 657,000 electric cars, Cleantechnica He points out that more than 480,000 of them were Tesla Model Y. This electric SUV that became the best -selling car in the world in 2023 is, by far, the best beta in the mine that Tesla has in China.
The Tesla Model and is the best -selling electric car in the country. China has a category called “New Energy” where the electric and plug -in hybrids add up. Above Tesla Model and only the Byd Song was placed but this is sold in hybrid version. The Seagull Byd, second best -selling purely electric car, about 27,000 registrations below the Tesla model.
An extreme dependence. The company has ended up based on China on the electric SUV. Behind the Tesla Model and, his Tesla Model 3 was the best -selling car with a lot of difference. So much that according to data collected by Autovista24The Berlina touched the 177,000 registrations. Added both vehicles is the result: Tesla lives two models in China (Model and and Model 3).
The Tesla Model S and Model X are missing. Yes, the company sells them there but they are models considered luxurious to the point that Xiaomi boasts to put in the market an ultra xiaomi su7 that is sold in China for a much lower price to Tesla Model S Plaid, with which it compares in benefits.
Little impact … A 34% tariff to all goods from the United States would affect very little in practice to Tesla sales in China. The only two cars that would be punished are the Tesla Model S and Model X that, as we see, have irrelevant sales in the final results account. They are models considered of luxury and Chinese clients have turned their backs to any product that is not local in that price segment.
Tesla manufactures those two cars exclusively in the United States But his Tesla Model 3 and Model and yes he manufactures them in China with concrete specifications for the country. Everything indicates that they would not be affected by the new tariffs. In the opposite direction, everything that Tesla sells in the United States is manufactured in the country so it is Of the few companies that can breathe Relieved
And although the year has started horrible for Tesla in China, in March it has sold 78,828 vehicles according to data from CNEVPOST. That means that the replacement of Tesla Model and is already paying off. Despite a 11.8% drop compared to the same month of 2024 begins to move in usual figures compared to previous years.
Little impact … direct. The economic impact for Tesla should not be very high, as we have commented, but there are other fronts that the company has to take into account this commercial war. The first and that does affect it directly is the confidence of investors. Between bad results and the new Chinese tariff flying out, Tesla will face the day based on a significant fall.
The second is to see if China is willing to close Tesla’s tap in its businesses in China. The company has been trying to open a hole for years among companies that are allowed to operate with driving aid systems. It is a very sensitive issue for the Chinese government and He only gave Tesla permission last year associated with Baidu and forcing him to maintain the data obtained within the Chinese borders.
This business is essential for the company that has focused on autonomous driving and software development as one of its fundamental pillars. In fact, continuing to work in its expansion in China in this field is one of the outstanding objectives in its Financial reports.
Cutting the tap. Putting tesla in this field would be a very hard retaliation against the company. Keep in mind that Byd, his main rival in the market, has already presented his eye of God a few weeks ago, a wide system of driving aid that will be delivered for free In all cars, regardless of its price.
Tesla is making autonomous driving its flag for the future. The company wants to diversify its business because it aspires To be the first company that truly draw a great performance of a product that has already burned billions of euros along the way and what He has abandoned other giants as General Motors.
Photo | The White House and ABODI VESAKARAN
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings