(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday more than doubled the amount of solar cells that can be imported duty-free to help domestic panel makers who use components made abroad.
According to the declaration of the White House announced late on Monday, solar cells’ so-called the tariff quota increases to 12.5 gigawatts from 5 GW. Currently, the tariff is 14.25 percent
Former President Donald Trump first imposed the tariffs in 2018 under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 to protect the small US solar manufacturing sector from competition from cheap imports, mainly from Asia.
The Biden administration announced in May that it would consider raising the quota if imports approach the 5 GW level.
Biden has promised to revive American manufacturing jobs in part by producing clean energy equipment to support his climate change agenda.
(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Tom Hogue)
