Biden allows more solar cell imports to avoid Trump-era tariffs

[August 13, 2024]  (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday more than doubled the volume of solar cells that are allowed to be imported tariff-free to help domestic panel producers that rely on components made overseas. 

U.S. President Joe Biden walks toward the South Lawn of the White House as he departs on travel to Wilmington, Delaware in Washington, U.S., August 2, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo

According to a White House proclamation released late on Monday, the so-called tariff-rate quota on solar cells will increase to 12.5 gigawatts from 5 GW. The tariff currently is set at 14.25%

The tariffs were first imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 under section 201 of the 1974 trade act to protect the small U.S. solar manufacturing sector against competition from low-priced imports made mainly in Asia.

The Biden administration had said in May it would consider raising the quota if imports approached the 5 GW level.

Biden has pledged to revitalized American manufacturing jobs in part by producing clean energy equipment to support his climate change agenda.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Tom Hogue)

[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.