What should the U.S. do with tariffs on Chinese solar cells and batteries?

Shares of Chinese solar and battery makers rose Thursday after Democrats won both chambers of Congress, as investors anticipated possible federal support for renewable energy. U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar cells rose to 50 percent in 2024, while tariffs on Chinese lithium-ion batteries for uses other than electric vehicles rose to 25 percent in January; the trade representative’s office said the tariffs remain subject to possible modification. Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang attributed the stock gains to sentiment rather than concrete proposals, while Jefferies analyst Alan Lau cautioned that more renewable support might not significantly open the U.S. market to Chinese exporters.