Shining Light on Solar vs. Steel Trade Cases

Last Friday, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that the domestic solar industry has been seriously injured by imports of cheap, foreign-made solar cells. The case was brought by solar panel makers Suniva and SolarWorld under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. The ITC now has until Nov. 13 to make recommendations to President Trump on possible remedies. Under Section 201, the president has the ultimate authority to take whatever action he chooses against solar imports from any and all countries. The administration has until Jan. 12 to decide whether to impose tariffs, quotas or a combination of measures.

“We brought this action because the U.S. solar manufacturing industry finds itself at the precipice of extinction at the hands of foreign market overcapacity,” reads a Suniva statement. “The ITC has agreed, and now it will be in President Trump’s hands to decide whether America will continue to have the capability to manufacture this energy source.”