SEMA Coalition Praises Biden-Harris Administration’s Section 301 Tariff Actions

U.S. solar manufacturers will receive greater protections on heavily subsidized solar imports and tariff relief on certain equipment that can only be sourced from China

Washington, DC – Today, following the Biden Administration’s announced updates to the Section 301 Tariffs, Mike Carr, Executive Director of the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America (SEMA) Coalition, released the following statement:

“This is an important step in aligning U.S. industrial policy and the goals of the IRA with U.S. trade policy. Both an increase in tariffs on China’s solar component exports and temporary tariff relief for certain solar equipment will boost U.S. manufacturing and send an important signal to China. The provided and suggested tariff increases on solar components from China will, in USTR’s words: defend the United States against China’s policy-driven non-market excess capacity, which has led to extreme concentration of production in China and underpriced exports. 

Dollars saved in retroactive equipment exclusions will help U.S. solar manufacturers confront the challenges of market manipulation from China. U.S.-owned companies were the first movers when it came to building solar manufacturing factories in the U.S. and should be rewarded for taking that first step as we restore the entire supply chain.

We appreciate the efforts that went into this important step and look forward to working with the administration to continue to address market manipulation from China. A stronger domestic content bonus is a critical next step toward reshoring this industry as we deal with the headwinds from China.”

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