Biden Seeks to Boost US Solar Industry Amid Probe of Potential Chinese Trade Violations

The White House announced two moves Monday toward boosting U.S. solar panel production.

The Biden administration plans to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to boost U.S. manufacturing of panels and other clean energy sources, and is also seeking a two-year pause on solar import tariffs from four Southeast Asian countries. The four countries — Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam — are the focus of an ongoing Commerce Department probe into whether Chinese companies are dodging U.S. trade penalties.

The Commerce Department opened a probe in April at the request of California-based solar manufacturer Auxin Solar to investigate whether Chinese companies are skirting solar tariffs by sending products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Some solar developers and Democrats say the probe is fueling higher prices and delayed projects due to potential new tariffs. The Solar Energy Industries Association released a statement Monday thanking Biden for moving to tackle "the current crisis of the paralyzed solar supply chain." Auxin Solar said the Monday announcement "opened the door wide for Chinese-funded special interests to defeat the fair application of U.S. trade law."

News sources across the political spectrum focused on how the moves could boost U.S. solar panel production and alleviate supply chain issues. Some coverage from right-rated sources, such as Fox Business, focused more on the Commerce Department's inquiry and potential Chinese trade violations than other sources across the spectrum did.