In a decision that could dramatically reduce solar imports to the U.S. and undercut President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate goals, the Commerce Department said Monday it is investigating whether imports of solar panels from Southeast Asia are circumventing anti-dumping rules that block imports from China.
Clean energy leaders who have enthusiastically backed Biden's agenda condemned the decision — which could lead to retroactive tariffs of up to 240% — and said it could lead to thousands of layoffs in the domestic solar industry and imperil up to 80% of planned solar projects in the U.S. Such an outcome would jeopardize one of Biden's top clean energy goals and run counter to his administration's push for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
