A major green energy industry group, whose members include Chinese companies, has lobbied the White House to avoid potential tougher tariffs targeting Chinese solar companies.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has pressed the White House to increase support for domestic solar power producers in a bid to weaken even tougher tariff demands from U.S. companies. according to Go to Bloomberg News. The effort was an attempt to pre-empt petitions that could lead to new or increased protections for U.S. industry, the newspaper reported.
In the end, it wasn’t until the creation of a coalition of seven U.S. solar companies that the White House significantly increased support for domestic solar power. It has been submitted Petitions the Biden administration to investigate “potentially illegal trade practices” by South Asian countries that are allowing Chinese solar manufacturers to circumvent U.S. trade rules. American solar companies argue that these practices are hurting American industry.
“SEIA has consistently lobbied in favor of policies that benefit Chinese solar companies at the expense of U.S. solar companies,” said Rich America’s Senior Director of Public Affairs and Communications. Vice President Nick Iacobella told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “It is not surprising that they would once again seek to undermine potential investigations into China’s illegal trade activities that are directly harming American solar manufacturers and American workers.” (Related: Chinese solar companies set to benefit from Biden’s signature climate change bill)
When asked what message he had for oil and gas workers whose “livelihoods have been cut short,” John Kerry said:
“What President Biden wants to do is make sure that these people have better options…so that they can be the people that can go into manufacturing solar panels.” pic.twitter.com/i9TYXlD9Jg
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 27, 2021
Lobbying exposed report SEIA says it has hired a third-party firm to lobby the White House on “issues related to the extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), ITC storage and tariffs” in the first quarter of 2024. It shows. SEIA declined to confirm or deny that it promoted the extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the imposition of tariffs. The White House will expand domestic solar power subsidies to deter concerned U.S. companies from seeking tougher tariffs.
While the petition itself does not necessarily guarantee that the government will fix the tariffs, it can be a first step in getting the government to investigate and possibly take action on alleged abuses of trade laws. . according to To the United States International Trade Commission. SEIA is consistently opposed customs duty for Sun market Over the last few years.
Department of Commerce in August 2023 concluded Five solar power manufacturers based in China are said to have evaded U.S. solar power tariffs through Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Companies identified by the Department of Commerce in its 2023 report that attempted to evade tariffs included SEIA members, including Canadian Solar and Trina Solar, or their subsidiaries.
canadian solar and trina solar As well as SEIA members, we are among the 10 largest solar power companies in the world. LONGi Solar, according to Towards playable digital. Other Chinese companies or their subsidiaries listed as members of SEIA include: sinotek usa, Quatre, wuxi suntech and Ginryu Technologies.
Chinese control Weak supply chains for solar power, access to state subsidies and its labor cost advantages make it difficult for American companies to compete. according to In the New York Times.
A petition filed Wednesday with the Commerce Department says heavily subsidized Chinese companies are using countries like Vietnam and Cambodia to avoid tariffs and dump their cheaper products into the U.S. market. The aim is to force the Biden administration to address the allegations.
In an interview with DCNF, Auxin Solar CEO Mamun Rashid said Wednesday’s petition and increased protections are both positive developments for U.S. companies. Rashid and Oshin Solar filed trade complaints that spurred a Commerce Department investigation into tariff evasion by Chinese solar companies in 2022.
“Unless we close our gates and secure our borders, imports will eat us alive,” Rashid told DCNF. “SEIA has been against tariffs and all kinds of tariffs. They always say, ‘If we impose tariffs, it’s going to destroy the solar industry, it’s going to hurt the solar industry.’ Well, tariffs have been introduced before, but they didn’t hurt the solar industry at all. In fact, the industry has grown faster than optimistic forecasts. ”
Rashid said the tariffs would likely hurt Chinese companies, but could also hurt some U.S. companies whose operations depend on Chinese supply chains and products. . But reducing the opportunities for Chinese companies to dump cheap products into the U.S. market is better than simply expanding subsidies, mainly because, as Rashid says, “you can never beat China’s subsidies.” This will be a good outcome for domestic manufacturers. (Related: Europe wanted cheap solar panels. Now China is taking over the industry completely)
Joe Biden: “We’re going to shut down these power plants across America and put in wind and solar power.” pic.twitter.com/dkIu80sqZa
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 4, 2022
SEIA argues that the petition filed Wednesday threatens U.S. companies because it could introduce new volatility and disruption to the industry. A SEIA spokesperson did not directly respond to questions about its China-based members or their subsidiaries.
“We are deeply concerned about this issue. [petitions] “This will lead to further market instability across the U.S. solar and energy storage industry, creating uncertainty at a time when effective solutions are needed to support U.S. solar manufacturers.” said in a joint statement with the U.S. Clean Power Association and two other green trade groups. “Constructive actions like advanced manufacturing tax credits and other policies are needed to expand domestic solar manufacturing and rapidly deploy clean energy at scale to meet growing electricity demand. Is required.”
Susie Emmerling, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Solar Manufacturing and Trade Council, which filed the petition Wednesday, agreed with Rashid’s general support for stronger protections for U.S. companies.
“We strongly disagree that this hurts American companies as much as it hurts Chinese companies,” Emmerling told DCNF.
The Commerce Department and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
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