With a flurry of recent activity, the U.S. government is administering or considering import duties and quotas on imports of solar energy equipment in three areas: The solar module tariff-rate quota under the “Section 201”...more
On May 14, 2024, President Biden announced that he is directing his Trade Representative to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on a wide range of Chinese goods, which will significantly impact U.S....more
On November 13, 2023, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued its opinion in Solar Energy Indus. Ass'n v. United States. The decision has retroactive implications for the exclusion currently extended to...more
Solar panels are once again in the news due to several recent developments. Due to various trade remedy actions taken over the course of the past few years, solar panels are 45% more expensive in the United States than in...more
In a slip opinion issued on November 19, 2020, the United States Court of International Trade (“USCIT”) permitted the imposition of tariffs on bifacial solar panels, a victory for the Trump administration’s years-long effort...more
Washington saw a flurry of bipartisan activity over the last few weeks. Most notably, Republican and Democratic negotiators reached a long-awaited deal on sequestration budget caps. The compromise, announced on February 7 as...more
In fulfilling his campaign pledges to American manufacturing and fossil fuel energy companies, on January 22, 2018, President Trump approved a 30 percent tariff on imported silicon solar cells and modules. Solar cells are the...more
On January 22, 2018, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert E. Lighthizer announced that President Donald Trump had decided to impose safeguard remedies, or temporary trade barriers, with respect to imports of crystalline...more
Following months of speculation, on January 23, 2018, the Trump Administration issued a Proclamation announcing new tariffs on imported solar cells and modules (the “Solar Tariff”) in response to the Section 201 petition...more
The announcement of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) on January 22, 2018, that the Trump Administration is granting relief for the domestic solar panels and modules industry under section 201 of the Trade...more
On Jan. 22, 2018, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer announced that the Trump Administration approved recommendations to impose safeguard tariffs on imported solar cells and modules. The USTR made the...more
The fate of the U.S. solar industry is now (at least somewhat) in the hands of President Donald Trump. By Jan. 12, 2018, he must decide what action, if any, to take against overseas solar panel manufacturers whose imports are...more
After hearing days of arguments and considering dozens of filings from solar companies both opposed to and in support of trade action, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today recommended tariffs on imported solar...more
A recent decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") could have long-term consequences for the U.S. solar industry. On September 22, 2017, the ITC found, by a vote of 4-0, that rising imports have caused...more
After the U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) ruling on September 22 that importers of solar panels have seriously injured domestic solar panel manufacturers, the U.S. solar industry is set for a period of...more
On August 15, 2017, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) held a hearing to consider whether solar panels are being imported in such increased quantities that they are the “substantial cause” of serious injury or the...more