Washington — Monday’s Byden administration imposes new tariffs on the solar energy industry in response to protests from importers complaining that the surcharge threatens the wider adoption of solar energy in the United States2 We are planning to announce that we will be suspended for a year.
This decision is a victory for domestic PV installers who said tariffs would jeopardize the Biden administration’s goal of significantly reducing carbon emissions by the end of the decade. But that would go against the intentions of American manufacturers and trade unions, which have pushed the government to set tighter barriers to cheap imports to help revive the domestic solar industry.
To counter these complaints, the government has also put in place policies to support the domestic solar industry, according to people familiar with plans that refused to speak publicly prior to the official White House announcement. I will announce it. Two people familiar with the debate said these efforts would include the use of Defense Production Act authorities. It gives the President increased authority and funding to direct the activities of private enterprises.
The Ministry of Commerce was considering whether to impose tariffs as part of a trade case accusing Chinese solar companies of trying to avoid existing levies by moving their businesses from China to other countries. .. In recent years, a major Chinese solar manufacturer has launched large-scale businesses in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.
If the Commerce Department determined that the factory was set up to avoid US tariffs, the government could have been able to impose tariffs retroactively on shipments to the United States.
US solar companies say more and retroactive tariff prospects are already having a chilling effect on imports. Groups such as the Solar Energy Industries Association are lobbying the White House for tariffs and welcomed the news on Monday that the administration would suspend the new taxation.
Abigail Ross Hopper, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Solar Energy Industry Association, said in an email statement, “Today’s actions protect existing PV jobs and the photovoltaic industry. Will increase employment in the area and develop a strong solar power manufacturing base here. “
“During the two-year tariff suspension, the Defense Production Act will support the growth of US PV manufacturing, while the US solar industry can return to rapid development,” she said. ..
Jim Tankasley Report that contributed.
