US lawmakers are demanding a hard crackdown on cheap solar imports dodging trade tariffs.
According to Reuters, bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday urged the Trump administration to crack down on imports of what they say are partially finished solar cells that are being used to evade trade duties and improperly claim federal manufacturing tax credits.
Inside the multi-billion-dollar battle over American energy:
Domestic manufacturers led by the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee argue that Chinese firms are routing their solar cells through Southeast Asian nations for “minor processing” to legally dodge heavy anti-dumping duties.
The debate over so-called blue wafers is part of a long-running U.S. effort to curb what domestic solar panel makers say are attempts to avoid tariffs.
Chinese companies account for about 80% of global solar supply, and many have shifted manufacturing to other countries to serve the U.S. market.
These imported panels have reportedly caused solar prices to plummet by over 50%, threatening billions of dollars of domestic factory investments spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act.
While domestic solar manufacturers are demanding aggressive new tariffs (ranging from 70% to 271%), U.S. solar installers and developers are heavily lobbying against the crackdown, warning that blocking cheap imports will stall clean energy deployment and eliminate American installation jobs.
