US President Joe Biden wants the US to produce more solar energy in the coming years. To make this possible, Biden wants to take measures to significantly increase the production of solar panels in the US. He also does not introduce import duties on cheap panels from Southeast Asia for the time being. News service reports that Reuters.
According to the energy agency IEA, the US is one of the few countries where the production of solar energy is slowing down. The reason for this is that cheap panels from Asia are often used in the US.
The US decided several years ago to impose import tariffs on solar panels from China because they compete with US panel manufacturers. The government has also recently threatened to impose tariffs on panels from various Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand. It is suspected that China has its panels made in those countries in order to circumvent the US import tariffs.
The tariffs benefit US panel manufacturers. But for developers of American solar parks, the charges are actually a problem. After all, the Asian panels have become considerably more expensive due to the levies. Many projects have therefore been discontinued.
To get solar production going again, Biden has now decided not to impose tariffs on panels from Southeast Asian countries for the next two years. The tariffs on Chinese products will remain in place.
The president also comes up with plans to ensure that more solar panels are made in the US. The total production capacity should reach 22.5 gigawatts in two years. The measure is intended to make the energy transition in the country less dependent on foreign countries.
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