The White House announced on Monday that it will issue a two-year pause on new tariffs on imported solar products while also using the Defense Production Act to boost U.S. solar production. Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul said:
“While I don’t believe solar installers deserved any tariff relief, the policies announced by the Biden-Harris administration today on balance should encourage clean energy manufacturing in America.
“It remains of upmost importance that the integrity of the trade enforcement process is preserved. The administration also must properly enforce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, given the vast evidence that forced labor is used to make solar products in Xinjiang.
“At the same time, the solar installation industry must also know that it can’t endlessly depend on subsidized imports to pad its profits in the years ahead. If solar is America’s energy future, that future must be Made in America.”
The Commerce Department is currently investigating whether solar companies with production in China are purposely circumventing U.S. trade enforcement by shipping products through four other countries.
California solar manufacturer Auxin Solar petitioned the agency to conduct the investigation, and CEO Mamun Rashid recently appeared on The Manufacturing Report podcast to discuss it. Rashid noted there is strong evidence that China is purposely avoiding paying legal duties on its solar products, undermining trade enforcement and U.S. manufacturers and workers. You can find the full episode of The Manufacturing Report podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts.
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