Washington, Apr 28 (EFE).- The United States House of Representatives approved this Friday a resolution to resume tariffs on imports of solar energy that had been suspended by the Joe Biden Administration, but which has no prospects of prospering when it continues its parliamentary procedure.
The text, promoted by Republican legislator Bill Posey, went ahead by 221 votes in favor and 202 against. Eight conservative congressmen spoke out against it and 12 progressives in favor.
Biden’s rule suspended tariffs on some components used in solar power manufacturing that are completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam.
According to data from the “number two” of the Democrats in the Lower House, Katherine Clark, it is estimated that imports of this type by these 4 countries represent 80% of US solar cell imports and help to boost the country’s solar industry.
A preliminary US Commerce Department investigation released in December 2022 determined that imports from those 4 countries may include Chinese-made components and that certain companies in those countries may be attempting to circumvent US tariffs on Chinese solar products.
The final report is due in May, but its initial findings stressed that there have also been documented cases of forced labor in the production of solar cells in China.
This same week the US Administration had shown its opposition to the rule ceasing to be in force.
In his opinion, according to a statement from the White House Office of Management and Budget, “it is necessary to meet the demand for safe and clean energy while ensuring that the Department of Commerce can rigorously enforce US trade laws.” USA”, and suspending it “would undermine those efforts”.
The memo stressed that reversing it would create “profound uncertainty for jobs and investments in the solar supply chain.”
The resolution must still pass the approval of the Senate, where the Democrats have control, but in case it goes ahead and reaches Biden’s office for its promulgation, the White House has anticipated that the president will veto it.
The US Presidency has made it known that, “given the strong trend in the national solar industry,” Biden does not plan to extend the suspension of tariffs when the initially decreed period ends in June 2024.
