WASHINGTON, Aug 26 Reuters The BidenHarris administration this week is expected to announce final implementation plans for steep tariff increases on certain Chinese imports, and if U.S. industry gets its way, many of the planned duties would be softened.

Manufacturers from electric vehicles to electric utility equipment have asked for the higher tariff rates to be reduced, delayed or abandoned, and for potential exclusions to be greatly expanded.

President Joe Biden in May announced a quadrupling of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to 100, a doubling of duties on semiconductors and solar cells to 50, as well as new 25 tariffs on lithiumion batteries and other strategic goods including steel to shield U.S. firms from Chinese excess production.

The White House had said initially the new tariffs would take effect on Aug. 1 but that was delayed until some time in September as the U.S. Trade Representative39;s office studied more than 1,100 public comments. A final determination is due by the end of August.

Whether to ease the tariffs is the administration39;s first major trade decision since Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the Democratic Party39;s presidential nominee after Biden stepped aside in late July.

The decision is politically tricky. Dialing back the duties could draw criticism from Republicans that Harris will take a softer stand on China trade in a campaign where Trump has vowed to hit Chinese imports with hefty tariffs. Proceeding with the…