U.S. trade panel recommends varying solar panel import restrictions (updated)

Solarworld AG

31/10/2017 16:29

(Adds details from commissioner recommendations) 
    WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Members of the U.S. 
International Trade Commission on Tuesday made three different 
recommendations for restricting solar panel  imports on Tuesday, 
giving U.S. President Donald Trump a range of choices to address 
injury to domestic producers. 
    The recommendations range from an immediate 35 percent 
tariff on all imported assembled solar modules to a four-year 
quota system that allows the import of up to 8.9 gigawatts of 
solar cells and modules in the first year. 
    Trump is expected to decide among the recommendations by 
early next year in the "global safeguard" case that could 
significantly restrict imports and affect the price of U.S. 
solar power. Since only two members agreed on the same 
restrictions, there was no majority recommendation from the 
four-member commission. 
    Commissioners David Johanson and Irving Williamson 
recommended four years of protection for domestic producers 
Solar World AG  SWVKk.DE  and Suniva Inc. 
    The two commissioners urged the president to impose an 
immediate 30 percent tariff on completed solar modules, to be 
lowered in subsequent years, and a tariff-rate quota on solar 
cells. Imports of cells in excess of one gigawatt would be 
subject to a 30 percent tariff that would decline after the 
first year. 
    ITC Chair Rhonda Schmidtlein recommended an immediate 35 
percent four-year tariff on imported solar modules, with a 
four-year tariff rate quota on solar cells. This would impose a 
30 percent tariff on imports exceeding 0.5 gigawatts and 10 
percent on imports below that level. These tariffs would decline 
over a four-year period. 
    In the most lenient recommendation, Commissioner Meredith 
Broadbent said the president should impose a four-year quota 
system that allows for imports of up to 8.9 gigawatts of solar 
cells and modules in the first year.  
         
 
 (Reporting by David Lawder and Diane Bartz; Editing by Richard 
Chang) 
 ((David.Lawder@tr.com; +1 202 354 5854; Reuters Messaging: 
david.lawder.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: USA TRADE/SOLAR