EU, China request consultation with US over solar tariffs
Following the introduction of 30% graduated tariffs on U.S. imports of solar cells and modules, the European Union and China have joined South Korea and Taiwan in filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization.
Trump proposes 72% cut to DOE’s clean energy research
President Donald J. Trump has asked Congress to take a machete to the Department of Energy’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs to even lower levels than he proposed last year – cuts likely avoided because of Congressional incompetence.
Trump tariffs roundly condemned by the solar industry
While it was not the worst case scenario, the solar industry is not at all pleased with the imposition of 30% tariffs in the first year.
Trump levies graduated tariffs starting at 30%, exempts 2.5 GW in cells
The decision, released on U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer’s website, could keep current U.S. module manufacturers in business by keeping their cell lifelines open.
Source: Solar tariffs won’t be as severe as feared
A source told pv magazine that the Section 201 decision has been made but announcement on Friday was delayed, and that while tariffs will be imposed the levels and other details will not be the worst-case scenario.
Report: Trump says he’ll announce solar tariff decision “soon”
In an interview with Reuters, the president slammed what he referred to as the dumping of inexpensive modules on the U.S. market.
Members of Congress urge Trump to impose tough tariffs on solar
Eleven members of Congress – eight representatives and three senators – sent letters to President Trump imploring him to impose “strong and effective remedies” to protect American solar module manufacturing from foreign competition.
Trump team argues strongly for tariffs
Reports say an unreleased memo circulating within the White House lays out arguments for the strongest of trade sanctions against foreign PV cell and module makers in what is likely a bad sign for U.S. solar markets.
GAO: Trump Admin’s attempts to undermine ARPA-E were illegal
After Congress allocated $91 million to the research program, the Department of Energy withheld it. The Government Accountability Office says that violated federal law.
On to round 5: Solar trade report filing sparks new round of lobbying
The U.S. International Trade Commission delivered their formal recommendations to President Trump on the solar tariff case last week. Let the next round of intense lobbying of the U.S. trade representative begin.
