Increase in Solar Cell TRQ Likely to Help US Panel Producers, ITC Says
An increase in the quantity of solar cells allowed a low rate under Section 201 safeguard duties would help U.S. solar module producers, though it could cost a U.S. company emerging from bankruptcy should it opt to restart production of…
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solar cells, the International Trade Commission said in a report released March 6. As proposed by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in December (see 1912200013), an increase in the TRQ threshold from 2.5 gigawatts to 4, 5 or 6 gigawatts would “likely result in a substantial increase in U.S. module producers’ production, capacity utilization, and employment,” the ITC said. “This is because U.S. module producers would gain expanded access to imported cells at lower prices (due to application of safeguard duties on fewer cells) during the remaining two years of the safeguard measure,” it said. While Panasonic, the only current producer of solar cells in the U.S., would likely not be affected, Suniva, which exited bankruptcy in March 2019, could see reduced profits under the higher safeguard if it starts making solar cells again, the ITC said.