US solar energy industry urges Trump not to impose tariffs on imports Xinhua-Jan 17, 2018

[Joanna + 68]

U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) urged President Donald Trump not to impose high tariffs on solar imports so as to preserve tens of thousands of jobs in the sector. Trump said Wednesday he would soon announce a decision on whether to impose tariffs on imported solar cells and modules. 

[Stephen + 67]

war with China over the solar panels is the one Trump should avoid 

[Meanwhile + 49]

Chinese solar panel manufacturers may not even care as much as they would have done in the past. Their sales inside China are growing and they're also rapidly expanding their international customer base. They would be able to find alternative markets if the U.S. becomes unattractive. Meanwhile, raising tariffs could effectively double the cost of panels and put as many as 90,000 American jobs at risk.

 

 

[Stephen + 67]

I think that tariffs will not save the overpriced US manufacturers but instead lower the number of installations here by increasing the cost. Trade war over solar will see US manufacturers continue to decline as will those who install them, it is a lose lose game for us.

[JohnAtronis + 78]

Coal is the future and we don't need these panels. So no trade deficit, no war, no dependency  

[Joanna + 68]

I don't see how China is ripping us off by selling solar panels below cost.

[Rodent + 1,424]

Just now, JohnAtronis said:

Coal is the future and we don't need these panels. So no trade deficit, no war, no dependency  

umm.... coal is hardly the future. I'm not saying coal and other fossil fuels are dead by any means. It will take some time to switch (unlike China's crazy plan that saw its citizens freeze).

But I think anyone who doesn't see any value in renewables is crazy.  It doesn't need to be a political issue. It's cleaner--why wouldn't we want that?

Crazies on both sides of this issue need to settle the heck down.

[Joanna + 68]

All this tit for tat is more of a gift to fossil fuel energy

[Joanna + 68]

The question for our administration is whether to kill the solar energy business to help a couple hundred solar panel jobs in the US while laying off 100,000 US jobs installing them. Or just tell the US solar panel manufacturers to deal with it and get more competative

[JohnAtronis + 78]

Fact is that if you are buying Chinese, you are buying crap. The only two companies making decent solar panels don't make them in China. You will pay more for the good stuff but if you plan on spending your life in that home its worth it. So it is basic market. You have Audi and you have Saturn. Your choice

[Meanwhile + 49]

My Chinese solar panels work great and cost about $1 per watt.

[JohnAtronis + 78]

If you want to sell it here, you should have to make it here. Just as we forced Toyota and Nissan to build their trucks here in the USA.

[Joanna + 68]

FUN FACT: One of the domestic solar companies is Chinese owned.

[JohnAtronis + 78]

this is just beyond me

Suniva Inc., a bankrupt U.S. solar manufacturer with a Chinese majority owner, is seeking protection from cheap imports from China.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-26/china-owned-u-s-solar-maker-seeks-u-s-tariffs-on-china-imports

[Rodent + 1,424]

If oil prices are a lesson as to what can happen when prices start falling, we can surmise that solar, if faced with significant price pressures (and a lack of any significant cheaper alternative), will get leaner and meaner like oil. Nothing makes you lose weight faster than having your belt cinched. THis is the way the market works. Yes, there will be casualties like we saw in oil too. But others will emerge victorious.

[Adam Varga + 123]

And now Trump's trade agenda against China is official. The tariffs of 30 percent on solar cells from nearly every country in the world, which will gradually diminish to 15 percent in 4 years. 

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

The loss of roughly 23,000 American jobs this year is expected after this decision, including many in manufacturing. And not to mention delays or cancellation of solar investments. 

[Rodent + 1,424]

Foreign companies will move here to America to avoid the tariffs. Seems like a win win to me. Even Aramco is looking to expand in America given the new tax rate.