WASHINGTON �� The U.S. International Trade Commission recommended tariffs on imported solar modules of up to 35 percent, as they discussed what remedies they would propose to President Donald Trump in a trade case that could upend the $29 billion U.S. solar industry.
In addition to tariffs, one member of the independent U.S. agency also suggested quantitative restrictions on the imports. The agency, which had earlier voted unanimously that U.S. solar manufacturers were being harmed by imports, divided on what recommendations they proposed to send to Trump.
Chairman Rhonda Schmidtlein proposed tariffs of 35 percent on solar modules and 30 percent on solar cells.
Trump has wide discretion to adopt one of the commission's recommendations, adopt something else, or do nothing at all. His deadline to decide is Jan. 12.
Under the trade case brought by Georgia panel manufacturer Suniva Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April, each of the four members of the commission can make recommendation to the president on the remedy to address a glut of cheap solar cells.
The company has sought tariffs of 25 cents per watt for solar cells, a floor price for panels of 74 cents per watt, and duties of 32 cents per watt for imported cells that have been assembled into panels.
Solar panel prices have fallen to about 32 cents per watt, which means Suniva's proposed duty would double the cost of a panel.
Much of the U.S. solar industry opposes tariffs, arguing that inexpensive foreign panels have driven a boom in clean energy projects and created tens of thousands of installation jobs.
