Washington, DC - Two years ago, President Trump took action to protect our solar industry by placing “safeguard” restrictions on imports of solar panels from China and other foreign producers that had been found by the International Trade Commission to harm domestic producers. Although USTR initially allowed an exception for bifacial solar panels, USTR took action to eliminate the bifacial exception after finding that it had caused a significant increase in imported panels. The ITC issued a report that also found that the exclusion had caused a spike in imports, thereby undermining the objective of the action, and potentially costing the United States many jobs. Today, Judge Katzmann of the Court of International Trade blocked USTR from closing the bifacial panel exception. USTR strongly disagrees with Judge Katzmann’s analysis. The solar industry and the jobs it represents are important to this country, and USTR will take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure that its safeguard relief is effective.
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