(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday more than doubled the volume of solar cells that can be imported tariff-free to help domestic panel producers who rely on components manufactured abroad.
According to a White House proclamation released Monday night, the so-called tariff quota on solar cells will increase from 5 GW to 12.5 gigawatts. The rate is currently set at 14.25%
The tariffs were first imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 under Section 201 of the 1974 trade law to protect the small U.S. solar production sector against competition from low-priced imports made mainly in Asia.
The Biden administration said in May it would consider increasing the quota if imports approached the 5 GW level.
Biden has pledged to revitalize American manufacturing jobs, in part through the production of clean energy equipment to support his climate change agenda.
(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Tom Hogue)
