Should Trump’s Solar Panel Tariffs be Repealed? (H.R. 5571)

What is H.R. 5571?

(Updated November 22, 2019)

This bill — the Protecting American Solar Jobs Act — would repeal tariff increases on imported photovoltaic cells (aka solar panels) imposed by the Trump administration on February 7, 2018. Tariffs would be lifted immediately and affected companies would be allowed to seek retroactive reimbursement from the government for increased duties they paid while the solar panel tariffs were in effect.

Argument in favor

This bipartisan bill would undo the Trump administration’s harmful solar panel tariffs, which threaten to increase costs for American solar companies and make them less competitive.

Argument opposed

The Trump administration was right to impose tariffs on imported solar panels as China was unfairly flooding the market with them and hurting American solar companies.

Impact

American solar companies and their workers; and the federal government.

Cost of H.R. 5571

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced this bill to repeal the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported solar panels:

“Solar energy’s success throughout Nevada has led to new jobs, cheaper power bills, and the growth of a new industry that is diversifying our state’s economy. This administration directly threatened the stability and financial well-being of our solar industry when the President decided to impose a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels. An attack on solar energy is an attack on the countless hardworking Nevadans who benefit from this growing industry, and my new bill will reverse this damaging decision.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) added:

“The saying in Washington is that if you want less of something, tax it. A tariff is a tax, and I don’t know what good can possibly come as a consequence of stifling the growth of solar power. Solar power is  one of the cheapest and fastest-growing renewable energy sources, and if we are really focused on becoming energy independent, now is no time to slow its growth. South Carolinians have the highest monthly electric bills in the country, and solar energy should be allowed to represent part of the formula to changing this. Finally, over 7,000 South Carolinians who work in the solar industry could lose their jobs because of these tariffs. This bill is about sustaining solar as a renewable and key energy source toward jobs, clean energy, and energy independence.”

This legislation has the support of four bipartisan cosponsors, including three Republicans and one Democrat.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Press Release
  
• PV Magazine
  
• Countable (Context)