White House moves to protect US solar manufacturers from Chinese competition

May 16 (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said it would protect domestic solar factories from Chinese competition by scrapping a tariff exemption for imported double-sided panels and making it easier for projects to claim a subsidy for using American-made products.

The moves come as President Joe Biden touts his economic policies ahead of a November election against his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. As part of the fight against climate change, Biden has sought to expand investment in the manufacturing of clean energy products, aiming to reduce the nation's reliance on Chinese-made goods.

The White House said it would soon remove a two-year-old trade exemption that has allowed imports of so-called bifacial panels to avoid duties. Those panels were a small part of the market at the time of the exemption but are now the main technology used in utility-scale solar projects.

Reuters first reported the administration's plans to do so last month.

Biden will also end a waiver on tariffs imposed on solar panels made by Chinese companies in Mala...
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