Trade panel finds harm from China solar panels
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal trade panel has found that imports of Chinese solar panels harm the U.S. solar industry.
Wednesday's unanimous vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission means steep tariffs imposed on China by the Obama administration in October will stand. It's the last step in a sweeping trade case that's gone on for more than a year.
A group of U.S. manufacturers complained that China's government is subsidizing companies that are flooding the U.S. market with low-cost products. The Commerce Department agreed, and imposed tariffs last month of up to nearly 250 percent on Chinese companies.
The case has aggravated already tense trade relations with China. It's also caused a rift in the U.S. between manufacturers and solar panel installers, who stand to gain from low-cost products.
Wednesday's unanimous vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission means steep tariffs imposed on China by the Obama administration in October will stand. It's the last step in a sweeping trade case that's gone on for more than a year.
A group of U.S. manufacturers complained that China's government is subsidizing companies that are flooding the U.S. market with low-cost products. The Commerce Department agreed, and imposed tariffs last month of up to nearly 250 percent on Chinese companies.
The case has aggravated already tense trade relations with China. It's also caused a rift in the U.S. between manufacturers and solar panel installers, who stand to gain from low-cost products.
It would be great if they could lower the cost of a solar watt, but not at the expense of American business. Government support just to crush another company that competes with you is not right. You can bet those who were buying from those Chinese companies were pocketing the extra profit from those panels. I'll bet they are crying the blues when we slam China with a huge tariff for subsidizing a lower price. It is going to cut into their huge profit margins they have been getting.Â