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US sets light tariffs on Chinese solar imports fearing local job loss
来源：shippingazette.com 编辑：编辑部 发布：2017/11/03 10:21:39
THE US solar industry was relieved to hear that the proposed tariffs on mostly Chinese solar panel imports would be less than half of what a bankrupt American manufacturer had demanded, reports Bloomberg.
The US International Trade Commission recommended tariffs on imported solar panels of as much as 35 per cent during a hearing this week.
Suniva, based in Jiangsu province bordering Shanghai, had been suggesting import duties of 40 cents a watt for solar cells.
Seeking lower tariff, the Solar Energy Industries Association warned that implementing high duties could double the price of solar US solar energy, destroying demand and causing American job loss.
The independent agency will send its proposals to President Donald Trump, who faces a January deadline to make the final decision.
The tariff proposals are lower than requested by Suniva Inc, the Georgia-based but China-owned manufacturer, filed the trade case in April seeking tariffs of 32 cents a watt for panel imports.
Other US solar companies had been bracing for higher duties, which they said would have disrupted the US$29 billion industry, stifling installations and triggering job cuts.
Some developers were already stocking up on inventory in anticipation of higher costs and halting construction on projects because of pricing uncertainty.
"That's below the price that people have been hoarding panels for," said Jeffrey Osborne, an analyst at Cowen & Co. "On the demand side, jobs cuts won't be as bad as feared, but on the manufacturing side, job creation won't be as big. This would have a limited effect."
The US International Trade Commission recommended tariffs on imported solar panels of as much as 35 per cent during a hearing this week.
Suniva, based in Jiangsu province bordering Shanghai, had been suggesting import duties of 40 cents a watt for solar cells.
Seeking lower tariff, the Solar Energy Industries Association warned that implementing high duties could double the price of solar US solar energy, destroying demand and causing American job loss.
The independent agency will send its proposals to President Donald Trump, who faces a January deadline to make the final decision.
The tariff proposals are lower than requested by Suniva Inc, the Georgia-based but China-owned manufacturer, filed the trade case in April seeking tariffs of 32 cents a watt for panel imports.
Other US solar companies had been bracing for higher duties, which they said would have disrupted the US$29 billion industry, stifling installations and triggering job cuts.
Some developers were already stocking up on inventory in anticipation of higher costs and halting construction on projects because of pricing uncertainty.
"That's below the price that people have been hoarding panels for," said Jeffrey Osborne, an analyst at Cowen & Co. "On the demand side, jobs cuts won't be as bad as feared, but on the manufacturing side, job creation won't be as big. This would have a limited effect."