US International Trade Commission rules imported solar panels hurt US industry

[Mr. Bill]

Depending on how the Trump administration handles this, solar panel prices could rise a lot next year.

AP, 9/22/17: Trade Panel Finds Cheap Imports Hurt US Solar Industry

A U.S. trade panel has ruled that low-cost solar panels imported from China and other countries have caused serious injury to American manufacturers, raising the possibility of the Trump administration imposing tariffs that could double the price of solar panels from aboard.

Friday’s vote by the International Trade Commission was unanimous. The trade commission has until mid-November to recommend a remedy to President Donald Trump, with a final decision on tariffs expected in January.

Georgia-based Suniva Inc., and Oregon-based SolarWorld Americas brought the case, saying a flood of imports have pushed them to the brink of extinction. Suniva declared bankruptcy, while SolarWorld had to lay off three-quarters of its workforce. ...

Suniva’s U.S. operations are based in Georgia, but the company’s majority owner is in China. SolarWorld Americas is a subsidiary of German solar giant SolarWorld, which declared insolvency last month. ...

Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, called the trade commission’s 4-0 vote disappointing for nearly 9,000 U.S. solar companies and the 260,000 Americans they employ. ...

“Here is the real story of this case: We have two foreign-owned, poorly managed companies using U.S. trade laws to put U.S. manufacturers out of business and causing U.S. employees to lose their jobs,” she said.

[mountainmoma]

Other, absolutely all American Panel companies have been driven out of business by these subsidized by the Chinese government solar panels. But, the American ones have never cost double what the Chinese imports have cost.

But, this has been going on for many, many years ! Why so late with such a ruling ? Kind of like closing tha barn door after the horse has got out, the damage done has been done and may well be irreversible at this point

On my roof our made in America Panels whose companies no longer exist. AstroPower ( plant bought out by GE after bankrupcy) and Evergreen.

[Cedar]

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[Carl]

  If economy were the only part of the equation the government would not have to subsidise the solar industry with huge tax rebates.Maybe stop rebates for import panels or ad a tax on imports as most other countries do to take more of the working mans money.While I like solar,if it were truly economical I feel the power companies would install it on every home.

[iam4liberty]

But, this has been going on for many, many years ! Why so late with such a ruling ? Kind of like closing tha barn door after the horse has got out, the damage done has been done and may well be irreversible at this point

You cant tell from the lack of news coverage, but china is in major transition and now is the time to negotiate everything.  Communist party leadership is changing over.  And they have just had their bonds downgraded because of a a three-to-one debt-to-gdp ratio.  They are hurting bad and are willing to negotiate on trade with any foreign power willing to help them stop the flight of capital from China.  This is also why they are cracking down on crypto currency.  The wealthy arevleaving in droves.