Federal trade panel calls for restrictions on imported solar cells - which Trump could soon implemen
Source: Washington Post
Federal trade panel calls for restrictions on imported solar cells — which Trump could soon implement
By Chris Mooney October 31 at 2:36 PM
In a closely watched trade case, the four commissioners of the U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday voiced their support for tariffs and other import restrictions to protect domestic solar companies from an influx of cheap solar panels being produced overseas.
However, the proposed remedies were not consistent across the commissioners and did not go as far as the two companies that brought the action before the board had requested — leaving few parties happy with the outcome and lingering uncertainty over the ultimate endpoint of the process, which will be determined by President Trump.
“The remedy recommended by the ITC is disappointing because it will not heal the damage suffered by this American high-tech manufacturing sector from what has been a tidal wave of imports,” said a statement from Suniva, the now-bankrupt Georgia-based panel manufacturer who brought the original trade case with SolarWorld Americas, based in Oregon.
The case has divided the solar energy industry.
Most of the U.S. solar industry has strongly opposed the two companies’ claims, suggesting that the remedies they seek would be disastrous for the domestic industry. Tariffs or import restrictions, they say, would raise overall panel prices, costing solar jobs, particularly in panel installation.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/10/31/federal-trade-panel-calls-for-protections-against-imported-solar-panels-which-trump-could-soon-implement/
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