President-elect Joe Biden plans to keep import tariffs on China in place early in his presidency, saying the U.S. needs more leverage against “abusive” trade practices, MarketWatch reports.

“I’m not going to make any immediate moves, and the same applies to the tariffs,” Biden told New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.  “I’m not going to prejudice my options.”

Biden said he will try to build an allied front against China’s unfair trade practices, while also trying to improve diplomatic ties with China by toning down the harsh rhetoric used by outgoing President Donald Trump.

Analysts say that by teaming up with Europe and keeping the Trump tariffs in place, Biden will retain leverage over China, mute Congressional criticism and bolster public support.

Trump began imposing import tariffs on Chinese products in 2018, leading to double-digit tariffs on $370 billion in Chinese goods that set off the biggest U.S. trade war in decades.

The tariffs include 25% duties on bolts, screws and other fasteners (HTS subheadings 7318.11.00 to 7318.29.00) manufactured in China and 15% on all Chinese iron and steel nuts (HTS subheading 7318.16.00).

The tariffs were issued under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the White House to fight foreign trade policy it deems “unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts United States commerce.”

In September, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that Trump’s tariffs on more than $400 billion in Chinese goods violate international trade regulations.

“While Trump insists China is bearing the costs of the tariffs, every major study has shown that it’s American customers who are paying the price,” MarketWatch reports.

While the 301 tariffs will remain in place for now, a Biden administration could “reduce or suspend import tariffs on steel and aluminum that Trump imposed on a number of countries aside from China on national-security grounds,” according to MarketWatch.  Those 232 tariffs hiked costs on industrial products and consumer goods such as autos and appliances.

When will Section 301 tariffs go away? 
During a 2019 International Fastener Expo conference, attorney Richard Wortman of GDLSK.com said 301 tariffs were likely to linger even if a new president was elected in the U.S.  The tariffs have become federal government income without being called a “tax,” he noted.

“It is going to take a while for tariffs to go away.”

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) list includes:
7318.11.00 – Iron or steel, coach screws
7318.12.00 – Iron or steel, wood screws (o/than coach screws)
7318.13.00 – Iron or steel, screw hooks and screw rings
7318.14.10 – Iron or steel, self-tapping screws, w/shanks or threads less than 6 mm in diameter
7318.14.50 – Iron or steel, self-tapping screws, w/shanks or threads 6 mm or more in diameter
7318.15.20 – Iron or steel, bolts and bolts & their nuts or washers, imported in the same shipment
7318.15.40 – Iron or steel, machine screws (o/than cap screws), 9.5 mm or more in length and 3.2 mm in diameter
7318.15.50 – Iron or steel, threaded studs
7318.15.60 – Iron or steel, screws and bolts, nesoi, having shanks or threads less than 6 mm in diameter
7318.15.80 – Iron or steel, screws and bolts, nesoi, having shanks or threads 6 mm or more in diameter
7318.19.00 – Iron or steel, threaded articles similar to screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws & screw hooks, nesoi
7318.21.00 – Iron or steel, spring washers and other lock washers
7318.22.00 – Iron or steel, washers (o/than spring washers and other lock washers)
7318.23.00 – Iron or steel, rivets
7318.24.00 – Iron or steel, cotters and cotter pins
7318.29.00 – Iron or steel, nonthreaded articles similar to rivets, cotters, cotter pins, washers and spring washers