Reuters reports that the tariffs have not slowed the decline in solar prices, as they are down 30 percent globally due to an oversupply of Chinese solar panels.
Chinese subsidies have also hurt their own solar industry which is now losing $1 for every $3 in sales for some larger Chinese manufacturers, reports the New York Times.
“U.S. cell and module manufacturers have not gone out of business due to ‘bad bets’ on the wrong technology,” said Steven Ostrenga, CEO of Helios USA, a solar manufacturer, in his ITC testimony last week on behalf of the SolarWorld led coalition. “Most were simply driven out of the market by China’s unfair trade practices.”
The tariffs become permanent only after the International Trade Commission has ruled that Chinese subsidies harmed or threatened to harm U.S. manufacturers, which is not expected until November.
“We believe that global competition is good for American solar consumers and companies. Fortunately, these tariffs will not stop the development of American solar energy, which 92 percent of the American people want to see developed even more, according to a recent national poll,” Shah added.
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