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US prepares to bring back tariffs on dominant solar technology, sources state

The Biden administration is expected to give a demand by South Korea's Hanwha Qcells to reverse a twoyearold trade exemption that has allowed imports of a dominant photovoltaic panel innovation from China and other nations to prevent tariffs, two sources knowledgeable about the White House plans stated on Wednesday.

The demand, which has actually not previously been reported, comes as Qcells is looking for to secure a pledged $2.5 billion expansion of its U.S. solar manufacturing presence against competition from more affordable Asian-made products.

The solar division of Korean corporation Hanwha Corp. described the request in an official petition to the. U.S. Trade Agent on Feb. 23. It included letters of. support from seven other companies with billions of dollars. integrated invested in U.S. solar factories.

No choice has been made on the timeline of the expected. turnaround, the sources stated.

Responsibilities on imports of bifacial panels, the main technology in. utility-scale solar projects, would be an advantage to the more than. 40 solar equipment factories planned because U.S. President Joe. Biden signed his landmark environment modification law, the Inflation. Reduction Act, in 2022.

Those plants are critical to Biden's strategy to eliminate climate. modification, revitalize American production and create countless. union jobs.

Past trade treatments have dramatically divided the U.S. solar. industry, which is dominated by installers and developers who. depend on inexpensive imports to keep their project costs low.

The leading U.S. solar trade group, the Solar Energy Industries. Association, lobbied for the bifacial exemption. SEIA was not. right away offered for comment.

Biden administration authorities, including Treasury Secretary. Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Agent Katherine Tai, in. current weeks have said the U.S. is evaluating trade remedies to. handle dangers presented by China's huge investment in factory. capability for clean energy goods.

Qcells, which has two factories in Georgia, is the biggest. U.S. manufacturer of silicon-based solar products.

In its petition, a copy of which was seen , the. business asked Biden to withdraw an exemption of so-called bifacial. panels from tasks initially enforced by Republican previous President. Donald Trump in 2018 and extended by Biden, a Democrat, in 2022.

The tariffs on imported modules started at 30% and presently. stand at 14.25%. They are because of end in 2026.

' A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD'

The majority of panel imports originate from Southeast Asia however are made by. Chinese business there.

The U.S. enforced responsibilities on some panel makers for completing. their items in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam to. avoid tariffs on Chinese-made products. Biden waived those tariffs. nearly 2 years earlier, a policy that the White House stated it will. permit to end in June.

We're continuing to take a look at all of our options to make sure. that the historical investments stimulated by the Inflation Reduction. Act succeed, a White Home official said. Our business. and workers can take on anyone, but they require a level. playing field.

Bifacial panels can produce electricity on both sides. The. innovation was nascent when the tariffs were very first imposed but. now represents 98% of imported modules, according to the. petition.

The action is required, Qcells stated in the petition, to. protect the many prepare for new U.S. solar manufacturing. capability that have actually been unleashed by rewards consisted of in the. IRA.

Despite these favorable trends, there is growing proof. that unfavorable market conditions caused by surging imports of. bifacial modules are causing numerous business to reassess their. strategies to purchase the U.S., the petition said.

Qcells' demand is supported by seven other solar. producers with U.S. factories - First Solar,. Heliene, Suniva, Silfab, Crossroads Solar, Mission Solar and. Auxin Solar - according to the petition documents.

Georgia U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both. Democrats, have likewise promoted for elimination of the bifacial. exemption.

(source: Reuters)