Page 25 - ARUBA TODAY

BUSINESS Monday 25 SepteMber 2017
A25

Trade panel says low-cost solar imports hurt U.S. companies

By MATTHEW DALY warning that potential tar-
Associated Press iffs could double the price
WASHINGTON (AP) — Low- of solar installations, lower-
cost solar panels import- ing U.S. demand and risk-
ed from China and other ing billions of dollars in in-
countries have caused vestment.
serious injury to American Suniva’s U.S. operations are
manufacturers, a U.S. trade based in Georgia, but the
commission ruled Friday, company’s majority own-
raising the possibility of er is in China. SolarWorld
the Trump administration Americas is a subsidiary of
imposing tariffs that could German solar giant Solar-
double the price of solar World, which declared in-
panels from abroad. solvency last month.
The 4-0 vote by the Inter- Suniva hailed the ruling.
national Trade Commission “It will be in President
sets up a two-month review Trump’s hands to decide
period in which the panel whether America will con-
must recommend a rem- tinue to have the capability
edy to President Donald to manufacture this energy
Trump, with a final decision source,” the company said
on tariffs expected in Janu- in a statement. “President
ary. Trump can remedy this in- In this Feb. 14, 2017 photo, a rooftop is covered with solar panels at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in
White House spokeswoman jury with relief that ensures New York.
Natalie Strom said Trump U.S. energy dominance Associated Press
“will examine the facts and that includes a healthy U.S.
make a determination that solar ecosystem and pre- from renewable sources by efficiency,” the company employees and closing
reflects the best interests of vents China and its proxies 2025. has “suffered substantial production sites in Georgia
the United States. The U.S. from owning the sun.” Suniva called the case a losses due to global im- and Michigan.
solar manufacturing sector Trump has not cozied up matter of fairness. Even ports,” Suniva said in its SolarWorld Americas,
contributes to our energy to the solar industry, as he with better manufacturing petition. The company meanwhile, has trimmed
security and economic has for coal and other fossil methods, lower costs and declared bankruptcy this its workforce from 1,300 to
prosperity.” fuels, but he is considered “dramatically improved spring after laying off 190 300, with more cuts likely.q
Georgia-based Suniva Inc. sympathetic to imposing
and Oregon-based Solar- tariffs on solar imports as
World Americas brought part of his “America first”
the case, saying a flood of agenda.
imports have pushed them Governors of four solar-
to the brink of extinction. friendly states — Nevada,
Suniva declared bankrupt- Colorado, Massachusetts
cy, while SolarWorld had to and North Carolina — op-
lay off three-quarters of its pose the tariff, warning it
workforce. could jeopardize the in-
Cheap imports have led to dustry. They cited a study
a boom in the U.S. solar in- showing that a global tariff
dustry, where rooftop and could cause solar installa-
other installations have tions to drop by more than
surged tenfold since 2011. 50 percent in two years,
The main trade group for a crushing blow as states
the solar industry and many push for renewable energy
governors oppose tariffs, that does not contribute to
saying they could cause a climate change.
sharp price hike that would “The requested tariff could
lead to a drop in solar in- inflict a devastating blow
stallations by more than 50 on our states’ solar indus-
percent in two years. tries and lead to unprec-
Abigail Ross Hopper, presi- edented job loss, at steep
dent and CEO of the Solar cost to our states’ econo-
Energy Industries Associa- mies,” the two Republicans
tion, called the trade com- and two Democrats wrote
mission’s vote disappoint- in a letter Thursday to the
ing for nearly 9,000 U.S. trade commission.
solar companies and the A group of former U.S. mili-
260,000 Americans they tary officials also urged the
employ. Trump administration to re-
“Foreign-owned compa- ject solar tariffs, noting that
nies that brought busi- the Defense Department
ness failures on themselves is the nation’s largest en-
are attempting to exploit ergy consumer and follows
American trade laws to a federal law calling for
gain a bailout for their bad the Pentagon to procure
investments,” Hopper said, 25 percent of its energy