  May 6, 2024 ArticleSolar manufacturers petition US to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations in approximately four to six months.“I am all in favor of growing the American economy and engaging in trade with the world, but not at the expense of American workers.” — Unknown Unicorn Solar wants to remind everyone that it is not the Chinese that are paying the tariff it is the companies buying the modules that are purchased. The government gets the tariff and US companies are paying them. As a believer in a free market, I do see the pros and cons to tariffs. Unicorn Solar is working to have a solar module factory in the US as well. I see the tariffs benefit us if we have a factory. Another point to take into consideration is most of the money to build these factories is coming from Asia as well with the greatest part coming from China directly or indirectly. The benefit to the US and our economy is that we are controlling our own energy needs in the US if most of the materials are coming from US manufacturing as well it boosts our economy and national security. Unicorn Solar started two and a half years ago to do a complete review on the feasibility of manufacturing in the US, and we learned at that time almost no materials (components) to assemble a module were available. The toughest components for manufacturing a US module with US materials are glass, wafers, and cells. Please consider the following points as well:· First Solar and six other manufacturers allege that Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are flooding the U.S. market with cheap solar cells that threaten the domestic industry.· The manufacturers request that the Commerce Department impose tariffs on solar cell imports from the four countries as a remedy.· They allege that China is trying to circumvent tariffs by shifting manufacturing to the four countries.· Several solar and renewable energy trade associations said if they oppose more tariffs, they would create market volatility in the US.A coalition of US solar manufacturers on Wednesday petitioned the federal government to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations, alleging that the countries are flooding the U.S. market with cheap products that threaten the domestic industry. First Solar and six other manufacturers allege that companies in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are dumping solar cells on the U.S. market at prices below the cost of production or are benefiting from subsidies that leave domestic manufacturers unable to compete. The other six parties to the petition are Convalt Energy, Meyer Burger, Mission Solar, Qcells, REC Silicon and Swift Solar. The U.S. manufacturers have asked the International Trade Commission to issue a determination that the domestic solar industry has been harmed. They request that the Commerce Department impose tariffs on solar cell imports from the four countries as a remedy. First Solar shares rose more than 1% on the news. “Remember that they manufacturer in Asia as well. ”Companies that would be targeted by investigations launched by the ITC and Commerce Department are primarily headquartered in China. The U.S. manufacturers allege that the Chinese government is providing subsidies through Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative to manufacturers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. “This petition is not asking for special treatment from the US government,” Tim Brightbill, the lead attorney in the case, told reporters on a call Tuesday. “It is simply asking that our current trade laws be enforced. ”According to a press release issued in August 2023, the Commerce Department determined that Chinese producers are shipping their solar products into the U.S. through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam to avoid tariffs. President Joe Biden waived the imposition of tariffs on those products until June. Brightbill told reporters that most imports from the Southeast Asian nations would not be covered by tariffs when Biden’s waiver lifts in June because Chinese companies have moved manufacturing out of China and into the four countries. Tariffs have divided the U.S. solar industry. The manufacturers’ petition to impose duties was met with opposition from the Solar Energy Industries Association, American Clean Power Association, Advanced Energy United, and the American Council on Renewable Energy. The trade groups said they are “deeply concerned” that the petitions “will lead to further market volatility across the U.S. solar and storage industry and create uncertainty at a time when we need effective solutions that support U.S. solar manufacturers.” They called on the White House to consider alternative solutions to the manufacturers’ concerns. Array Technologies, a manufacturer of solar tracking technology, said the petitions would hurt jobs and undermine U.S. clean energy goals. “This case is bad news for clean energy jobs and American solar manufacturing,” Array CEO Kevin Hostetler said in a statement Wednesday. “More duties will only cause uncertainty and unnecessary project delays, holding the U.S. back in meeting our clean energy deployment and manufacturing goals. ”Solar panel prices plummeted nearly 50% globally in 2023 compared with the prior year as manufacturing capacity has tripled since 2021, according to a January report from the International Energy Agency. The report said China’s market share of global supply chains is between 80% and 95%.The global supply glut led to a 45-gigawatt stockpile of solar modules in the U.S. at the end of 2023, nearly double forecast installations for 2024, according to the IEA. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC earlier this month that the Biden administration would not rule out imposing tariffs on subsidized clean energy exports from China. The ITC and Commerce Department investigations will take about 12 months to conclude, Brightbill said. The soonest that tariffs could be imposed is after the Commerce Department makes a preliminary determination, which will take about four to six months, he said. Looking ahead, we cordially invite you to join us at RE+ Event in Houston, Texas, May 14-15th, at booth 911. This forum will give you the best environment for more in-depth talks, facilitating a profound understanding of your specific needs and exploring potential avenues for collaboration. Schedule your meeting!   Get a quote now!   Visit our website Unicorn Solar | Website |
Solar manufacturers petition US to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations in approximately four to six months.
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